On Friday, November 24, Cricket South Africa named Laura Wolvaardt the captain of the South African women’s side for all three forms. They also unveiled the 15-member T20 International (T20I) squad for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to take place from December 3 to December 23.
Notably, Laura Wolvaardt captained her team in an acting capacity during two recent visits to Pakistan and New Zealand, when she excelled at the bat and led her team to consecutive 2-1 triumphs in ODI series. The 24-year-old has participated in 86 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) thus far in her career, amassing 3421 runs at an average of 45.61, including four hundred and thirty-fifties.
In 59 Twenty20 Internationals, the leadoff hitter has amassed 1313 runs at an average of 32.82 and a strike rate of 111.36, with nine fifty-score innings under her belt.
The first match for Laura Wolvaardt to captain the team full-time will be a Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh, which is slated to happen from December 3–08.
Since Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx have won their first-ever international call-ups for the Twenty20 Internationals, she will have a mix of young and seasoned players in her side. In addition to them, after putting in strong performances at the domestic and emerging levels at the beginning of the new season, all-arounder Annerie Dercksen has returned to the national team.
Injury prevents Ayabonga Khaka, Chloè Tryon, and Nadine de Klerk from participating.
Some players with central contracts, though, will not be available for the T20I series. For example, fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka is out with a knee injury, and all-rounders Chloè Tryon and Nadine de Klerk are out with a groin and side strain, respectively. Veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, meanwhile, will be back for the vital ODI series after being rested for the T20Is.
Prior to it, the team for the forthcoming three-match ODI series will be revealed. Notably, the three games are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25 (IWC) in an effort to qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. They will take place at East London, Potchefstroom, and Benoni between December 16 and 23.
Proteas Women T20I Squad vs. Bangladesh (2023–24): Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (Western Province), *Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Delmi Tucker (Western Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans)
India
