From the Crease to the Classroom: Andri Steyn’s Journey into Elite Sport Science Research
From the crease to the classroom: Andri Steyn's journey into elite sport science research
Former national cricketer, Western Province Women’s team athlete and UWC cricketer, Adri Steyn, has successfully transitioned from the field of play to the world of elite sports research, fueled by a prestigious scholarship opportunity in Australia.
Steyn laid her academic foundation in South Africa, completing an undergraduate degree in Sport Science at UWC, followed by an MSc in Sport Science at Stellenbosch University in February 2023. Her master’s research focused specifically on understanding performance metrics in female cricketers, where she examined grip strength and kinematic parameters related to ball-carry distance among professional and semi-professional athletes.
Remarkably, she maintained her high-level athletic career, continuing to play for the University of the Western Cape Women's team, the Western Province Women’s team and the national team, until January 2024. It was at this time that Steyn decided to accept a significant opportunity: a “Women in Sport” PhD scholarship from the University of Canberra. This led her to relocate to Canberra, Australia, to begin her doctoral studies.
Steyn’s PhD project addresses a highly pertinent issue affecting global athletics, focusing on jet lag and travel fatigue in elite athletes. The research is jointly funded, highlighting its importance to Australian sport, by the University of Canberra and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
As of December 2025, Steyn has completed two years of the PhD, demonstrating substantial progress towards her anticipated completion date of July 2027. While the specifics of her post-PhD career are still taking shape, Steyn holds a strong personal hope: she aims to return to South Africa to be closer to friends and family after finishing her studies. Her journey exemplifies a successful move from being a subject of sport science to becoming a researcher who shapes the future understanding of athletic performance and recovery.