Following the announcement that Sarel Erwee has retired from professional cricket, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins recognise the important role that he played in winning trophies and guiding the next generation of Dolphins stars in a career that spanned over seventeen years.
From joining the Dolphins Academy structures in 2008 to finishing his career as part of the Dolphins' championship-winning One-Day Cup squad this past season, Erwee has been a stalwart of cricket throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
From his upbringing in Pietermaritzburg, where he attended St Charles College, Erwee is a KZN boy through and through and never wavered from his commitment to cricket in the province.
"As a kid from Pietermaritzburg, I grew up watching the Dolphins," Erwee said. "I was fortunate enough in that my dad would drive me down to Kingsmead to watch the Dolphins and when they came to Maritzburg, I was always there.
"So, from an early age, I fell in love with the Dolphins. I fell in love with the kit that they wore, I fell in love with the players; the likes of Lance Klusener, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock and Hashim Amla. I was in awe of these guys and how they played.
"Being a KZN boy I always wanted to play for the Dolphins and there was never a thought of playing anywhere else for me."
With over 300 professional matches across all formats, which include 10 test matches for South Africa, Erwee's career has been one of longevity and purpose. Averaging just shy of 40 in first-class cricket as an opening batter and 13 first-class hundreds to his name shows the impact he has had.
STANDOUT MOMENT
Erwee's contribution to the Dolphins' success in recent years has been crucial. His experience and leadership helped the Dolphins win two 4-Day Series titles in three seasons and for the 35-year-old, that was a highlight of his career.
"Having not won the 4-Day competition for a number of years, to be able to win that 4-Day competition in the 2020-21 season when the Dolphins had battled to win the tournament was a highlight. But then, to win it two seasons later again was also a tremendous achievement from the team.
"Personally, to get a hundred in that 2020-21 final against the Titans at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead was a standout moment for me as well," Erwee added.
Looking back on his debuts for the Dolphins, Erwee also earmarked those as stand-out achievements.
"Debuting for the Dolphins in 4-day cricket in East London and getting 60 not out, I got hundreds in both by my List-A debut against the Titans and my T20 debut against the Cobras.”
"I look back at my debuts as very awesome moments for me."
Another standout moment for Erwee from a domestic cricket perspective was a T20 Challenge final at Centurion for the Dolphins.
"A match that I also remember was playing the Titans in a T20 final in Pretoria in front of a sold-out crowd. We lost the match unfortunately; but to play in a domestic match against Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers and the big names of Titans cricket was also a memory that I won't forget.
"The 4-Day trophies, though, trump all the other memories that I have and winning those two 4-day trophies was special."
REPRESENTING THE PROTEAS
Playing cricket for South Africa was always the goal and in 2022, that became a reality when he played his first test match for the Proteas against New Zealand in Christchurch.
In his second test match, Erwee made 108 in a dominant victory over the Black Caps. Playing test cricket was the ultimate achievement and Erwee is grateful to have represented his country.
"The pinnacle of my career was playing test cricket for South Africa," Erwee explained. "People all want to play cricket for South Africa but I wanted to play test cricket for South Africa. It's the toughest format and tests you for five days.
"To be an opening batter facing the new ball against the best bowlers in the world was the pinnacle for me.
"My century was obviously a very proud moment, but having played at Lord’s, The Oval, the Gabba, the Sydney Cricket Ground, theatres of cricket was truly special.
"Getting 70 at Lord’s against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad was incredible, and to play against Joe Root and the other big names was very special."
Erwee will now make the transition into the working world taking up a position with Fourways, a brand that specialises in air conditioners, heat pumps and appliances.
"I have been planning for post-retirement for a while and have been in contact with Richard Perry and Kath Hughes from Fourways.
"I started studying marketing management and Kath immediately offered to guide and gain hands on experience.
"At the beginning of last year, I went in and sat in on some meetings and tried to learn as much as I could about the corporate world. I have just started there and am going to be learning on the job, and I'm looking forward to learning under the people that are there."
From a cricketing perspective, Erwee says he wants to try and stay involved at some level.
"At some stage, I want to get back into cricket. I love cricket and would love to stay involved in the game, whether it be coaching, mentoring or maybe in the business side once I have gained more experience.
"Commentating was great fun and I would love to do that. I worked with SABC twice and also really enjoyed that.
"Looking back on my career with the Dolphins, the team and the stadium has always been a special place for me and will always be a special place for me," a sentimental Erwee commented.