Dale Benkenstein

Dale Martin Benkenstein (born 9 June 1974) is a South African former cricketer who was an all-rounder. He is also a former first-team coach at Lancashire and Hampshire. Benkenstein was a member of the South Africa team that won the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

Early life Benkenstein was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe), the son of Martin Benkenstein, who had played for Rhodesia in the Currie Cup in the 1970s. In 1980, around the time of Zimbabwean independence, Martin moved his family to Durban, South Africa. There, Benkenstein attended Durban Preparatory High School, Durban High School and Michaelhouse schools. He captained the SA Schools side in 1992, and led the SA Colts team to the West Indies in the same year. He left his coaching role at Hampshire in July 2016 due to family reasons. After returning to South Africa he became head coach at Hilton College where he worked with 2019 Hilton head boy, and future Hampshire County Cricket Club bowler, John Turner.

In May 2021, Benkenstein joined Lancashire as batting coach on a short-term contract. In November 2021 he was named head coach of Gloucestershire on a three-year contract.

He was appointed head coach of Lancashire in 2023. Benkenstein left the role by mutual consent in May 2025, with the club seventh in division two of the County Championship at the halfway point of the season.

In March 2026, Benkenstein was appointed as a batting consultant at Durham.

Awards Benkenstein was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2009, based on his work with Durham in the English county championship.