Celebrating the rise of women in Sport who have flown and continue to fly the South African flag high both on domestic and international stages! Featured here is Laura Wolvaardt.
Despite her tender age, Laura Wolvaardt already has had her taste of World Cup exposure, having participated in both the 2017 World Cup in England and the 2018 Women’s World Cup held in Saint Lucia.
The 24 year old right-handed South African batter is known for her eye-catching shots, especially the cover drive.
In the lead-up to her remarkable presence as an opening batswoman, Wolvaardt’s journey began long before she captured the attention of the global cricket stage.
Born in Milnerton, Western Cape, Wolvaardt’s journey started when she was five years old.
She had male friends who used to play cricket and she would join them to avoid missing out on the fun. That is where she developed a passion for cricket, particularly batting.
At age 13, she was selected to be part of a girls’ team called Western Province U19. She later made her first appearance for the Western Province senior team in a Twenty20 match where she scored 13 runs from 18 balls.
It has always been her dream to play for the Proteas but didn’t think it would happen sooner than she thought.
From there, she went on to achieve incredible things in international matches. Her dedication and talent have made her a well-known and respected player in women’s cricket.
From her awe-inspiring accomplishments on the global platform, Wolvaardt’s journey exemplifies her unwavering commitment and exceptional talent, positioning her as a prominent figure in the dynamic landscape of women’s cricket.
Congratulations to Western Province duo Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk who have been named in an experienced 15-player squad to represent the country at next month's ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia.
— WPCA (@wp_cricket) January 13, 2020
Full squad - https://t.co/4FM7CKuzVZ pic.twitter.com/f5AJuhCw1I
The turning point arrived in early 2016 when Wolvaardt marked her One Day International (ODI) debut against England. What followed was nothing short of exceptional.
Merely four months later, at the age of 17, she etched her name in history as the youngest South African cricketer, irrespective of gender, to notch a century in ODIs.
Her commanding performance yielded an impressive 105 runs against Ireland, a feat that secured victory for her team.
Because of her amazing skills, she got to play in the 2018 Women’s World T20 tournament for South Africa. This was a big tournament, and her being chosen to play showed how much people believed in her talent.
She played really well and because of that, she earned a spot in the squad for the 2020 edition of the tournament. This proved again how important she was to her team.
Wolvaardt is an experienced campaigner with 2482 runs in 65 ODI innings, including 21 half centuries and three centuries. She is the world number nine batter in women’s ODI cricket.
Truly special to make my test debut this week. A moment I’ve dreamed of since I was little and to have my family at the game was incredible. A week I’ll definitely never forget. Hopefully the first of many 🤞🏻🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/U0L0XFg21S
— Laura Wolvaardt (@LauraWolvaardt) June 30, 2022
In May 2017, she was named Women’s Newcomer of the Year at CSA’s annual awards.
She has been a regular face in South Africa’s team as she has represented the country in 134 international games so far.
Apart from cricket, Wolvaardt enjoys playing the guitar and singing along. She’s a bookworm and likes spending time with family and friends.
Wolvaardt graduated from Parklands College with 7 distinctions and wanted to pursue a career in medicine because it was a more stable career path.
Since she was exposed to cricket from a young age she has also seen that cricket has great opportunities.
As a key figure in the world of cricket, Laura Wolvaardt’s legacy continues to evolve, inspiring fellow players and enthusiasts alike.
Her ability to combine grace with power makes her a true icon in the realm of modern cricket.
Which of these shots by @LauraWolvaardt is your favourite?#AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/J5gBzHmEYv
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 27, 2021
