Laura Wolvaardt named interim Proteas Women captain

The talented top-order batter will lead the team for the upcoming tours against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Wolvaardt's appointment comes in the wake of Suné Luus recently relinquishing her role as interim captain, and the unavailability of Chloe Tryon, the vice-captain, for the Pakistan series. By agreement with Wolvaardt, the position will be reviewed following the conclusion of the New Zealand inbound tour.

The 24-year-old, who was born under the picturesque view of Table Mountain in Cape Town, made her international debut at the young age of 16 in an ODI encounter against England in February 2016 in Benoni.

In her more than seven years as a consistent member of the national team, the stroke player has rocketed to third on the all-time ODI runs scorer's list for the Proteas Women, amassing 3 193 runs at an average of 45.61 including 29 fifties and three centuries in 80 matches.

In T20I cricket, the former Six Gun Grill Western Province product and current Fidelity Titans star has grown into her game in the 53 appearances for her nation. Wolvaardt has racked up 1 079 runs and seven half-centuries along with a career-best score of 66* against Bangladesh to help guide the Proteas to an ICC Women's T20 World Cup semi-final in February this year.

Emerging as a rising sensation during a period of triumph for the Proteas Women, Wolvaardt has garnered international acclaim. Her journey has led her to represent various franchises in T20 competitions around the globe, featuring in leagues such as the Women's Big Bash League, The Hundred, and the Women's Premier League in India.

Commenting on being appointed as interim captain for the Pakistan and New Zealand tours, Wolvaardt said: "It's a massive honour to be offered this position as captain for the next two tours.

"It's something that I have always aspired to do, having played in this team for a couple of years. Having more of a leadership role is something I've wanted to take on. It'll help me as a cricketer and learning to think as a captain on the field will hopefully help my batting as well.

"I'm very excited to be able to contribute in another way too, and not just in batting. It still feels surreal at the moment but it will all become more real when I meet up with the team in Pakistan.

"What I can bring to the role is the experience that I have in the side. I've been playing international cricket since I was 16 years old, I know quite a lot of players in the circuit and I've been playing in the leagues as well, so I've played a lot of cricket in recent years and hopefully, I'm able to use that experience and the knowledge to my advantage when I captain the team.

"I'd like to also think of myself as quite calm and level-headed and that's probably more of the approach that I try to take on the field as a captain.

"It is very new to me but I am keen to learn and do everything that I can to do well in the position. I am lucky that I have a couple of senior players within the squad around me as well, who would be able to help me and guide me if I do need help along the way," Wolvaardt added.

CSA Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe said: "Congratulations to Laura on her appointment as the captain of the Proteas Women's team for the upcoming tours. Laura's dedication, leadership acumen, and cricketing prowess have been evident throughout her career. Her ability to stay composed under pressure and her deep understanding of the game make her anideal candidate to lead the team.

"The captaincy holds a vital role in shaping the team's strategy and morale, especially during tours as important as these to Pakistan and at home against New Zealand. Laura's influence as captain will extend beyond her individual performances as she guides the team toward their goals.

"As the Proteas Women embark on these critical tours, CSA wishes Laura and the entire team the very best. The challenges ahead are immense, but with Laura's leadership and the team's collective efforts, they are well-poised to deliver outstanding performances on the field," Nkwe concluded.

The Proteas Women are set to kick off their new 2023/24 season with a first-ever tour to Pakistan between 1-14 September, with a three-match T20 International (T20I) and a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, with all contests held at the National Stadium in Karachi.

The ODI series will resume South Africa's ICC Women's Championship qualification pathway to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, with the Proteas on currently six points with three wins in three.

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