A Cricketer's Christmas

They’ll be away on the day so JP and Sue Duminy decided to get into the festive spirit early at home with little Isabella.

- Lara Atson

HE DREAMS of the day when he can dress up in a Father Christmas suit just like other dads and dish out gifts to his precious 16-month-old daughter, Isabella. But that day seems far off. In the past decade JP Duminy has been home for Christmas only twice – and both were bittersweet occasions because he was nursing injuries.

The family live out of a suitcase and Bella’s passport is chock-a-block with stamps. India, Australia, England – name a country and there’s a good chance the little jetsetter has been there.

On 23 December she’ll take her 70th flight. She and her mom, Sue, are heading to Port Elizabeth to support JP as he gears up for the Test series against Sri Lanka which starts later this month. It will also be the second Christmas Bella has celebrated with the members of the national cricket team.

“We do Christmas with the Proteas. They’re like our family,” Sue (31) says as she chats to us in the family’s four bedroom home in the posh Cape Town suburb of Plattekloof. It’s always a huge occasion. “All the players’ families are there. We’re usually at a private place where the team manager and captain deliver a speech. Father Christmas comes to hand out gifts to the kids and then we all eat and dance.”

The family’s still jetlagged. Just two days before YOU’s visit the trio returned from Australia after the Proteas’ 2-1 Test series victory over the Aussies. Their double-storey home is a hive of activity. While Sue sits in the make-up chair their adorable daughter totters around the house in a tutu dress and white sneakers.