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Heinrich Klaasen is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed wicket-keeper batsman. He has retired from Test cricket and plays only in limited-overs cricket. He is considered one of the explosive batters in international cricket and is known for his six-hitting abilities.
Wiki/Biography
Heinrich Klaasen was born on Tuesday, 30 July 1991 (age 32 years; as of 2023) in Pretoria, Transvaal Province, South Africa. His zodiac sign is Leo. While growing up in Pretoria, Klaasen attended Die Hoërskool Menlopark, a public school in Pretoria. He later pursued a bachelor’s degree at the University of Pretoria, where he developed an interest in cricket.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
Weight (approx.): 75 Kg
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Blond
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 40″, Waist: 32″, Biceps: 14″
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Paul Klaasen (deceased). Klaasen has a younger brother.
A childhood photo of Heinrich Klaasen with his father
Heinrich Klaasen with his mother
Heinrich Klaasen with his mother and younger brother
Wife & Children
Heinrich Klaasen got married to his longtime girlfriend Sone Martins, a radiographer, on 5 September 2020. The couple has a daughter named Laya.
Heinrich Klaasen with his wife and daughter
Relationships/Affairs
Heinrich Klaasen and Sone Martins dated each other for more than five years before getting married.
Heinrich Klaasen with Sone Martins
Signature
Career
Domestic and First-Class Cricket
While pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Pretoria, Heinrich Klaasen played for his college team. In the 2012/13 season, he made his first-class debut for the Northerns. In February 2017, Heinrich fell just short of a double-hundred, helping the Titans beat the Dolphins in the penultimate round of the first-class competition. In August 2017, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars inducted him into their squad for the first season of the T20 Global League.
A picture of Heinrich Klaasen from his domestic cricket days
In October 2018, he became part of Durban Heat’s squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament. In September 2019, he was named in the Tshwane Spartans’ squad for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament. In April 2021, Klaasen became part of Northerns’ squad. In February 2023, he scored his second century in the SA20 tournament while playing for Durban’s Super Giants against Pretoria Capitals. In July 2023, Klaasen became the first person to score a century in Major League Cricket; he achieved the feat while playing for the Seattle Orcas against MI New York.
Club/County Cricket
In 2007 and 2010, he played club cricket for the Purbrook Cricket Club.
Heinrich Klaasen during a club cricket match
Indian Premier League (IPL)
On 2 April 2018, Heinrich Klaasen made his IPL debut when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals, replacing Steve Smith.
Heinrich Klaasen played for Rajasthan Royals in 2018
In December 2018, at the auctions for the 2019 edition of the game, Klassen was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore; however, the RCB released him ahead of the 2020 IPL auction. He played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2023 edition of the tournament and made his maiden IPL century in a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Heinrich Klaasen in action while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL match
International
Although Klaasen was included in South Africa’s Test squad for their series against New Zealand in February 2017, he was not included in the playing XI. In February 2018, he replaced an injured Quinton de Kock to make his ODI debut for South Africa in a series against India; Klaasen earned his first Man of the Match in his second ODI.
Heinrich Klaasen with his first Man of the Match award
In February 2018, he was also included in the South Africa Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against India. On 29 February 2020, Heinrich Klaasen scored his first ODI century in a match against Australia.
International Debut
| Format | Date | Opponent | Venue | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 21 February 2018 | India | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Did not bat |
| ODI | 7 February 2018 | India | Newlands, Cape Town | Scored 6 runs |
| Test | 19 October 2019 | India | JSCA International Stadium Complex | Scored 6 runs (1st innings) and 5 runs (2nd innings) |
Captain
In January 2021, Heinrich Klaasen became captain of South Africa’s T20I squad for their series against Pakistan. In April 2021, he was again named captain of South Africa’s T20I squad for their series against Pakistan.
Retirement
On 8 January 2024, Heinrich Klaasen retired from Test cricket; he played only 4 Test matches after his debut in 2019.
Heinrich Klaasen’s Instagram post about his retirement from Test cricket
Test Stats
| Matches | Runs | Batting Average | 100s/50s | Top Score | Catches/Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 104 | 13.00 | 0/0 | 35 | 10/2 |
Controversy
Action against Klaasen for publicly attacking the umpire
In May 2023, in a match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants, Klaasen was fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct after he publicly criticised umpiring over a no-ball decision. In the 19th over of the innings, when the on-field umpire called Avesh Khan’s bowl a no-ball, LSG challenged the decision following which the third umpire reversed the decision, citing that the batter was crouching, and this made Klaasena and the SRH squad disappointed.
Car Collection
He owns many swanky cars including a Ford Ranger and an Audi.
Heinrich Klaasen with his Ford Ranger
Favourites
Facts/Trivia
- He plays with the jersey number 45 in both domestic and international cricket.
Heinrich Klaasen plays with the jersey number 45
- Klaasen considers AB de Villiers his role model. In an interview, while admiring AB de Villiers’ shots, Klaasen said,
You look up to some role models and you want to be like them – like AB de Villiers. You want to play all the shots but the genius behind guys like AB was knowing when to play them.”
- In his leisure time, he often goes for fishing.
Heinrich Klaasen’s Instagram post about fishing
- Apart from cricket, he enjoys playing Golf.
- Klaasen is a dog lover, and he shares pictures of his pet dog on social media.
Heinrich Klaasen with his pet dog
- He is often spotted consuming alcoholic beverages on various occasions.
Heinrich Klaasen enjoying wine with his wife
- Klaasen loves travelling and often explores wildlife.
Heinrich Klaasen loves to explore wildlife
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet, and he prefers prawns, chips, and salads at dinner.
- Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram are good friends, and Klaasen often shares his pictures with Markram on social media.
Heinrich Klaasen with Aiden Markram
- South Africa’s National Academy coach Shukri Conrad once called him the ‘poor man’s Dhoni.’ Conrad said,
Heinrich stays very calm in the situation. He stays in the moment. There’s very much a ‘poor man’s MS Dhoni’ about him. There are really no sideshows to his game and he doesn’t wait for the game to come to him.”