Suné Luus

{{short description|South African cricketer (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Suné Luus | female = true | image = | country = South Africa | fullname = Suné Elbie Luus | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|1|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Pretoria]], South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm [[leg spin|leg break]]/[[off spin|off break]] | role = [[Bowling (cricket)|Bowling all-rounder]] | international = true | internationalspan = 2012–present

| club1 = [[Northerns women's cricket team|Northerns]] | year1 = {{nowrap|2009/10–present}} | club2 = [[Yorkshire Diamonds]] | year2 = 2017 | club3 = [[Brisbane Heat (WBBL)|Brisbane Heat]] | year3 = 2018/19 | club4 = [[Lancashire Thunder]] | year4 = 2019 | club5 = [[IPL Velocity|Velocity]] | year5 = 2020 | club6 = [[IPL Supernovas|Supernovas]] | year6 = 2022 | club7 = [[Trinbago Knight Riders (WCPL)|Trinbago Knight Riders]] | year7 = 2022

| columns = 3

| date = 8 December 2024 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/487007.html ESPNcricinfo | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [[cricket]]}} {{MedalCountry|{{RSA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Women's Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup]]}} {{Medal|RU|[[2025 Women's Cricket World Cup|2025 India]]|}} {{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Women's World Twenty20|ICC T20 World Cup]]}} {{Medal|RU|[[2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup|2023 South Africa]]|}} {{Medal|RU|[[2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup|2024 UAE]]|}} }}

'''Suné Elbie Luus''' ({{IPAc-en|s|u|ˈ|n|eɪ|_|ˈ|l|uː|s}} {{respell|soo|NAY|_|LOOS}}, {{IPA|af|suˈnɛi_ˈluːs}};<ref>A video of Luus pronouncing her own name: {{cite web |last1=Luus |first1=Suné |title=How do you pronounce Suné Luus? |url=https://www.google.com/cameos/story/2ZPdb1fB/XuXC5t?hl=en |website=Google |access-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120135135/https://www.google.com/cameos/story/2ZPdb1fB/XuXC5t?hl=en |archive-date=20 November 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> born 5 January 1996) is a South African professional [[cricket]]er, who plays for the [[South Africa women's national cricket team|national cricket team]] as a [[Spin bowling|spin]] [[Bowling (cricket)|bowling all-rounder]].<ref name="Cricinfo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/487007.html |title=Suné Luus |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Luus was born and raised in [[Pretoria]].<ref name="Cricinfo"/><ref name="menlopark">{{cite web |title=Absolut Krieket: Suné Luus – Dié Menlo-meisie mág moker! |trans-title=Absolute Cricket: Suné Luus - This Menlo girl can smash! |url=http://www.menlopark.co.za/index.php/sport/krieket/absolut-krieket |website=www.menlopark.co.za |access-date=11 March 2022 |language=af}}</ref> Even when she was a toddler, her father encouraged her to play cricket.<ref name="tsa 2018-11-10">{{cite web |last1=Head |first1=Tom |title=Sune Luus: Six things to know about the Proteas' spin sensation |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/cricket/who-is-sune-luus-south-africa-record/ |website=[[The South African]] |access-date=11 March 2022 |date=10 November 2018}}</ref> "My dad was a mini cricket coach – I'm still a daddy's girl!"<ref name="enca 2017-02-22">{{cite news |title=Sune Luus: part-time student, full-time South Africa women's cricket star |url=https://www.enca.com/sport/cricket/sune-luus-part-time-student-full-time-south-africa-women-s-cricket-star |access-date=11 March 2022 |work=[[eNCA]] |date=22 February 2017 |language=en}}</ref> At the age of four, she started playing mini cricket with her father and older brother.<ref name="menlopark"/><ref name="enca 2017-02-22"/>

Three years later, aged seven, Luus joined the Under-10 boys team of her primary school, Laerskool Voorpos.<ref name="menlopark"/> Initially a "keeper / allrounder / opening pace bowler", she enjoyed the challenge of proving that girls could play cricket with the boys.<ref name="enca 2017-02-22"/> The same year, she also started playing women's club cricket, and was selected for the Northerns Under-13 provincial team.<ref name="menlopark"/> As a 12 year old, she was added to the Under-19 provincial team, and by the following year she was playing for [[Northerns women's cricket team|the senior provincial team]].<ref name="menlopark"/>

In 2009, aged 13, Luus was selected for the Under-19 national team. In both 2010 and 2011, she captained the Under-19 team that won the national championship undefeated. She also started secondary school at [[Hoërskool Menlopark]], and became the opening batter of the school's Under-14A boys team. Later, she played for the Under-15A team, in which she competed against boys who had already played provincial cricket at the Under-15 level.<ref name="menlopark"/>

Meanwhile, Luus was also playing competitive tennis. Eventually, she had to choose between an overseas cricket tour and a [[Sun City (South Africa)|Sun City]] tennis tour. She chose cricket, because she did not think that tennis was ever going to take her overseas. Although her mother had enjoyed travelling with her on tennis tours, both of her parents supported her decision, and watched all of the cricket matches she played.<ref name="fc 2018-10-13">{{cite web |author1=Team Female Cricket |title=EXCLUSIVE Interview with Sune Luus - South Africa's Spin Sensation |url=https://femalecricket.com/female-cricket-blogs/1363-exclusive-interview-with-sune-luus-south-africa-s-spin-sensation.html |website=Female Cricket |access-date=11 March 2022 |date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

In September 2012, at the age of 16, Luus made her debut for the national team.<ref name="Cricinfo"/> By then, she had become acquainted with men's Test batsman [[Jacques Rudolph]], and he had convinced her to take up leg spin bowling.<ref name="enca 2017-02-22"/>

In 2014, her final school year, Luus was so busy playing cricket that she spent only about three months attending school. At the end of that year, she considered studying teaching, but was concerned about whether she would have the time to do so.<ref name="saca 2016-01-13">{{cite web |title=Reaping the benefits |url=http://saca.org.za/reaping-the-benefits/ |website=SACA {{!}} South African Cricketers' Association |access-date=11 March 2022 |date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

Then, at a national team gathering at the High Performance Centre at the [[University of Pretoria]], Luus was informed that she could study for a Higher Certificate in Sports Science over two years instead of the usual year. With the assistance of a bursary from the South African Cricketers' Association, Luus began that course in 2015.<ref name="saca 2016-01-13"/> However, the university was later unable to arrange the practical element of the course for her, and she therefore transferred to the [[University of South Africa]] (Unisa) to study communication science.<ref name="fc 2018-10-13"/>

==Career== On [[South African women's cricket team in Ireland in 2016#1st ODI|5 August 2016]], during a match against [[Ireland women's cricket team|Ireland]] at the [[Anglesea Road Cricket Ground]], she became the second player to score a [[Century (cricket)|half-century]] and take a [[five-for]] in a [[Women's One Day International cricket|women's ODI]], after [[Heather Knight (cricketer)|Heather Knight]], by scoring 52 runs and taking 6 wickets.<ref>{{cite news |title=Luus' all-round brilliance underpins thumping SA win |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/women/content/story/1043005.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/one-day-cup-2013-14/content/records/287365.html|title=Records {{!}} Women's One-Day Internationals {{!}} All-round records {{!}} A fifty and five wickets in an innings {{!}} ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/962011.html|title=1st ODI: Ireland Women v South Africa Women at Dublin, Aug 5, 2016 {{!}} Cricket Scorecard {{!}} ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

She also equalled the record of [[Anisa Mohammed]] for picking up the most wickets in a single calendar year in women's ODI cricket, with 37 dismissals in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/one-day-cup-2013-14/content/records/283956.html|title=Records {{!}} Women's One-Day Internationals {{!}} Bowling records {{!}} Most wickets in a calendar year {{!}} ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> In 2016, along with [[Chloe Tryon]], she set the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in a WODI, with 142 runs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283613.html|title=Records {{!}} Women's One-Day Internationals {{!}} Partnership records {{!}} Highest partnerships by wicket {{!}} ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref>

In May 2017, she was named Women's Cricketer of the Year at [[Cricket South Africa]]'s annual awards.<ref name="awards">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/1097632.html |title=De Kock dominates South Africa's awards |access-date=14 May 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In March 2018, she was one of 14 players to be awarded a national contract by [[Cricket South Africa]] ahead of the 2018–19 season.<ref name="contract">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/1140181.html |title=Ntozakhe added to CSA {{as written|wom|ens' [sic]}} contracts |access-date=13 March 2018 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In October 2018, she was named in South Africa's squad for the [[2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20]] tournament in the West Indies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricket.co.za/news/26404/Cricket-South-Africa-name-Womens-World-T20-squad |title=Cricket South Africa name Women's World T20 squad |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=9 October 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/876874 |title=Shabnim Ismail, Trisha Chetty named in South Africa squad for Women's WT20 |work= International Cricket Council |access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref>

In November 2018, she was named in [[Brisbane Heat (WBBL)|Brisbane Heat]]'s squad for the [[2018–19 Women's Big Bash League season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/wbbl-04-all-you-need-to-know-guide-tv-schedule-squads-when-fantasy-best-players/2018-11-30 |title=WBBL04: All you need to know guide |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=30 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25412608/the-full-squads-wbbl |title=The full squads for the WBBL |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=30 November 2018}}</ref> In September 2019, she was named in the [[Duchesses (women's cricket)|M van der Merwe XI]] squad for the inaugural edition of the [[Women's T20 Super League]] in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27549831/cricket-south-africa-launches-four-team-women-t20-league |title=Cricket South Africa launches four-team women's T20 league |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/news/31581/CSA-launches-inaugural-Womens-T20-Super-League |title=CSA launches inaugural Women's T20 Super League |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref> In January 2020, she was named in South Africa's squad for the [[2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1570764 |title=South Africa news Dane van Niekerk to lead experienced South Africa squad in T20 World Cup |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref>

In January 2020, in the third WODI [[South Africa women's cricket team in New Zealand in 2019–20|against New Zealand]], Luus became the first bowler to take two [[List of five-wicket hauls in women's One Day International cricket|six-wicket hauls in WODI cricket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1593311 |title=Luus shines as South Africa take ODI series 3-0 |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> She took six wickets for 45 runs in ten overs, with South Africa winning the three-match series 3–0.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/report/sune-luus-six-wicket-haul-helps-south-africa-whitewash-new-zealand/ |title=Sune Luus' six-wicket haul helps South Africa whitewash New Zealand |work=Women's Cricket |access-date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=30 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130082643/https://www.womenscriczone.com/report/sune-luus-six-wicket-haul-helps-south-africa-whitewash-new-zealand/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> She was also named the player of the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/news/34211/Luus-leads-Proteas-Women-to-ODI-clean-sweep |title=Luus leads Proteas Women to ODI clean-sweep |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> On 23 July 2020, Luus was named in South Africa's 24-woman squad to begin training in [[Pretoria]], ahead of their [[South Africa women's cricket team in England in 2020|tour to England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29522505/csa-resume-training-camps-women-team |title=CSA to resume training camps for women's team |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>

In January 2021, in South Africa's series [[Pakistan women's cricket team in South Africa in 2020–21|against Pakistan]], Luus took her 100th wicket to become the tenth cricketer to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in WODIs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/ismail-luus-combine-to-make-it-3-0-after-wolvaardts-heroics-with-the-bat |title=Ismail, Luus combine to make it 3-0 after Wolvaardt's heroics with the bat |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref>

In February 2022, she was named as the captain of South Africa's team for the [[2022 Women's Cricket World Cup]] in New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/womens-world-cup-2022-lizelle-lee-returns-as-south-africa-announce-experience-laden-squad-1299857 |title=Lizelle Lee returns as South Africa announce experience-laden squad for Women's World Cup |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> after regular captain [[Dane van Niekerk]] was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured ankle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-captain-dan-van-niekerk-out-for-minimum-three-months-to-miss-2022-womens-world-cup-1296788 |title=Injured Dané van Niekerk out of 2022 World Cup |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> The semi-final match against England, on 31 March 2022, was the 100th WODI for Luus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/womenscricketworldcup/luus-lee-to-play-100th-odi-in-world-cup-semi-final-its-an-honour-20220330 |title=Luus, Lee to play 100th ODI in World Cup semi-final: 'It's an honour' |work=News24 |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

In May 2022, she played seven matches for the Tornadoes team at the [[2022 FairBreak Invitational T20]] in [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates, with a top score of 66* against the Barmy Army team.<ref name="Cricinfo"/> In the final of the Invitational, she also hit the tournament-winning runs for the Tornadoes.<ref name="csa 2022-05-16">{{cite web |title=CSA congratulates Luus and Khaka after FairBreak Invitational success |url=https://cricket.co.za/2022/05/16/csa-congratulates-luus-and-khaka-after-fairbreak-invitational-success/ |website=[[Cricket South Africa]] |access-date=27 May 2022 |date=16 May 2022}}</ref>

In June 2022, Luus was named as the captain of South Africa's [[Women's Test cricket|Women's Test]] squad for their one-off match [[South Africa women's cricket team in England in 2022|against England Women]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/south-africa-announce-15-member-squad-for-the-tour-of-england |title=Kapp, Lee and Jafta mark their return as South Africa announce squad for one-off Test and ODIs against England |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116083818/https://www.womenscriczone.com/south-africa-announce-15-member-squad-for-the-tour-of-england |url-status=dead }}</ref> She made her Test debut on 27 June 2022, for South Africa against [[England women's cricket team|England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1301327.html |title=Only Test, Taunton, June 27 - 30, 2022, South Africa Women tour of England |access-date=27 June 2022}}</ref> In July 2022, she was named as the captain of South Africa's team for the [[Cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games|cricket tournament]] at the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Birmingham]], England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cwg-2022-birmingham-no-dane-van-niekerk-for-commonwealth-games-too-luus-to-continue-as-south-africa-captain-1324867 |title=No Dane van Niekerk for Commonwealth Games too, Luus to continue as South Africa captain |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> In August 2022, she was signed as an overseas player for [[Trinbago Knight Riders (WCPL)|Trinbago Knight Riders]] for the inaugural edition of the [[2022 Women's Caribbean Premier League|Women's Caribbean Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/chamari-athapaththu-ayabonga-khaka-and-sune-luus-brought-in-for-womens-cpl-and-6ixty-1329403 |title=Athapaththu, Khaka and Luus brought in for Women's CPL and 6ixty |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>

She was named in the South Africa squad for the [[2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/csa-names-proteas-women-squad-for-pakistan-series-and-t20-world-cup-in-uae/ |title=CSA Names Proteas Women Squad For Pakistan Series And T20 World Cup In UAE |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=3 October 2024}}</ref> and for their multi-format [[England women's cricket team in South Africa in 2024–25|home series against England]] in November 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/csa-names-proteas-women-squads-to-face-england-in-t20i-and-odi-series/|title=CSA Names Proteas Women Squads To Face England In T20I And ODI Series|publisher=Cricket South Africa|accessdate=12 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cdd0rm91rnyo|title=South Africa rest Kapp for T20 series with England|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 November 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=487007}} *{{cricketarchive|id=1037906}} *[http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/sune-luus-part-time-student-full-time-south-africa-star/242787 Sune Luus – part-time student, full-time South Africa star] – article in ''Wisden India''

{{Bowlers who have taken 100 wickets in Women's ODI}} {{Navboxes | title = South Africa squads | titlestyle = background: #007749; color: #FFB81C; border: 1px solid #FFB81C; | list = {{South Africa Squad 2012 ICC Women's World Twenty20}} {{South Africa Squad 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2014 ICC Women's World Twenty20}} {{South Africa Squad 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20}} {{South Africa Squad 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20}} {{South Africa Squad 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup}} }} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luus, Sune}} [[Category:1996 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Cricketers from Pretoria]] [[Category:South African women cricketers]] [[Category:South Africa women Test cricketers]] [[Category:South Africa women One Day International cricketers]] [[Category:South Africa women Twenty20 International cricketers]] [[Category:South Africa women's national cricket team captains]] [[Category:Northerns women cricketers]] [[Category:Yorkshire Diamonds cricketers]] [[Category:South African expatriate cricketers in England]] [[Category:Lancashire Thunder cricketers]] [[Category:Brisbane Heat (WBBL) cricketers]] [[Category:South African expatriate cricketers in Australia]] [[Category:IPL Velocity cricketers]] [[Category:IPL Supernovas cricketers]] [[Category:Trinbago Knight Riders (WCPL) cricketers]] [[Category:Cricketers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for South Africa]]