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For South African-born wicket-keeper and explosive batter Andries Gous, his cricketing journey has always been about battling the odds. Hailing from a nation brimming with cricketing talent, Gous spent much of his early career waiting for opportunities to break through the dense competition. Now 24, Gous finds himself flourishing in the colors of the United States, grateful for the stage provided by USA Cricket and Major League Cricket (MLC).
In a heartfelt message, Gous opened up about the challenges many players face in cricket-rich countries like India and South Africa, where the sheer volume of skilled players makes it difficult for even the most talented to get noticed.
"We're thankful for the opportunity, we're thankful for USA, and the MLC to open the doors for us and gave us the opportunity to really showcase how good we are," Gous said.
Embracing the Moment: “You Have to Take It”
Gous didn’t hold back when reflecting on what the opportunity means to players like him — athletes whose potential often goes untapped in crowded cricket systems.
“I think India and South Africa, there's so many good players that will always be not looked at... just because there's just so many people and so many good players. And I'm guessing the same in India. It's like when you get your chance, you have to take it, because if you don't, there's five people waiting for their turn — and they won't make mistakes either,” he added.
That brutal honesty is shared by thousands of players globally, but few get the chance to voice it on a prominent stage.
A Platform to Shine: Major League Cricket
Gous found a new cricketing home in Washington Freedom thanks to MLC Gous, who believed in his credentials. Gous was indispensable for Freedom along with internationals Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson.
Indeed, the runaway 96-run win for Washington Freedom over the San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC 2024 final at Grand Prairie Stadium is testimony to the evolution of both Freedom and Gous himself. It was more than just a trophy for the franchise, but one of the watershed moments for USA Cricket.
Freedom's Core: A Balanced Mix of Experience and X-Factors
The Washington Freedom squad features a carefully curated balance of veterans and upcoming stars. Alongside Gous, the retained players for 2025 include:
Mukhtar Ahmed, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ian Holland, Amila Aponso, Justin Dill, Lahiru Milantha, Yasir Mohammad, Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Lockie Ferguson, Rachin Ravindra, Steven Smith, and Jack Edwards.
A Voice for the Underdogs
“We’re just finally grateful for the opportunity that we finally got to prove ourselves — that we are here, and that we’re good enough to compete,” Gous concluded.
Gous is the highest rated T20I batter from USA Men's International Cricket team.
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