5 interesting facts about Andries Gous, who scored 80* vs South Africa in 2024 T20 World Cup clash
Andries Gous fought like a lone warrior for USA in their recent 2024 T20 World Cup match against South Africa. In the absence of skipper Monank Patel, Gous shouldered the top-order responsibilities for the United States.
Opening the batting with Steven Taylor, Andries Gous scored an unbeaten 47-ball 80, hitting five fours and five sixes. Unfortunately for the USA opener, his efforts went in vain as his team fell 18 runs short while chasing South Africa's 194/4.
Although USA lost the match, Gous earned everyone's respect with his knock at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Here's a list of five interesting things which fans should know about the USA opener.
#1 Andries Gous was born in South Africa
Like most of the USA players, Gous was born outside the United States. He was born in the Welkom region of South Africa, and earlier today, he destroyed the Proteas bowling attack in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
In fact, Gous played domestic cricket for Free State in South Africa and even represented the Proteas at the U-19 level. However, he never received a chance to play at the senior level for South Africa.
#2 Gous played for Shah Rukh Khan-owned Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 2024
Gous' experience of playing in T20 leagues has helped him in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He represented Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the International League T20 played earlier this year.
Gous ended with the second-best batting average in the team. He played just four matches, aggregating 112 runs, including a fantastic 95 against Desert Vipers, which featured Mohammad Amir, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tymal Mills, and Sheldon Cottrell.
#3 Andries met his wife Rolandi while they were studying
Andries is 30 years old and is married to Rolandi, with whom he has two kids. Rolandi revealed in an Instagram post that she met the love of her life at college, where she studied drama and theatre arts, while Andries studied law.
Till 2021, Andries and Rolandi stayed in South Africa before they moved to Seattle in the United States.
#4 Andries Gous had a brilliant strike rate of 170 in Abu Dhabi T10
Another popular league that Gous has been a part of is the Abu Dhabi T10 League. In the previous edition of the league, the wicketkeeper turned up for Samp Army.
He shared the dressing room with the likes of Moeen Ali, Najibullah Zadran, Faf du Plessis, Karim Janat, and Jason Holder. Gous scored 153 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 170 in the T10 league.
#5 Andries Gous belongs to the same U-19 batch as David Bedingham and Lizaad Williams
Andries Gous was a member of the South Africa U-19 squad that hosted a Youth Test series against England U-19s back in 2013. David Bedingham and Lizaad Williams, who have played senior level international cricket for South Africa, also played in that series.
England U-19s squad featured Dom Sibley, Ben Duckett, and Olly Stone. Notably, Stone was the visiting team's captain.