Wolvaardt in Line for Top Honors at ICC 2024 Awards
South Africa Proteas Womenβs captain Laura Wolvaardt has been nominated in three categories for the ICC 2024 Awards. Wolvaardt is in contention for Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. She joins Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu as the only players nominated in all three categories.
In the Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year category, Wolvaardt is nominated alongside India’s Smriti Mandhana, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, and Athapaththu. For Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year, Amelia Kerr from New Zealand and Orla Prendergast from Ireland are also in the running. The Women’s Cricketer of the Year category features Wolvaardt, Sutherland, Kerr, and Athapaththu.
A bag full of nominations!π
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) December 31, 2024
Congratulations to Proteas Womenβs captain, Laura Wolvaardt, on being nominated by the ICC in 3οΈβ£ categories!
Outstanding stuff Wolfie!π€π#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/dSuomDLQXL
ODI Performance in 2024
Wolvaardt had a strong year in ODIs, scoring 697 runs from 12 innings at an average of 87.12 and a strike rate of 87.34. After a slow start against Australia, where she scored just seven runs in three innings, Wolvaardt found form and delivered consistent performances.
She hit two unbeaten centuries against Sri Lanka, including a career-best 184\* in Potchefstroom. This was followed by another century against India in Bengaluru. Wolvaardt ended the year with good scores against England in December.
Her 184\* against Sri Lanka came off 147 balls and included 23 fours and four sixes. It helped South Africa post 301/5 in that match.
T20I Performance in 2024
In T20Is, Wolvaardt played 19 matches, scoring 673 runs at an average of 39.58. She recorded her first T20I century against Sri Lanka in Benoni and led South Africa to the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
One of her key performances came in Canberra, where South Africa secured their first-ever T20I win over Australia. Chasing 143, Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 58 helped her team to victory with six balls remaining.
Test Performance in 2024
Wolvaardt featured in three Tests during the year against Australia, India, and England. Although she struggled against Australia at the WACA, she scored her first Test century in Chennai during South Africaβs second innings against India. Her 122 from 314 balls, supported by Sune Luus’s century, helped South Africa avoid an innings defeat.
In the home Test against England, Wolvaardt looked in good touch with a score of 65 but was dismissed LBW despite an apparent inside edge. With no review system available, she had to accept the decision.
Laura Wolvaardt’s consistent performances across all formats have made her a standout player for South Africa. As the ICC Awards draw closer, she will be hoping to add to her accolades and continue her impressive run of form into the next season.
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