Opening fast-medium bowler Shabnim Ismail made her debut for South Africa as they emerged from their wilderness years in 2007, and quickly became their all-time leading international wicket-taker, a position she maintained throughout her career, having taken 149 international wickets up to and including the 2016 Women's World T20 in India.

In November 2011, she took 6 for 10 as South Africa bowled out the Netherlands for 36 in a World Cup qualifier in Bangladesh.

Her career has not been without controversy - in 2014 she was briefly suspended from the National Academy, after an alcohol-related incident. On a brighter note, in 2015 she was nominated for South African Sportswoman of the Year at the South African Sports awards, missing out to road-cyclist Ashleigh Moolman.

A reserve call-up for the first Women's Big Bash League in 2015-16, Ismail played two matches for the Melbourne Renegades, taking 3 for 10 in her debut versus Melbourne Stars.

Having played in every Women's World T20 since the competition's inauguration in 2009, she once again opened the bowling for South Africa in all four of their matches at the 2016 edition in India; but by her high standards had a disappointing tournament, albeit in tough conditions for pace bowling, taking just 3 wickets at an economy rate of 6.25. Syd Egan