Laura Wolvaardt

Wolvaardt is a right-handed batswoman who plays for South Africa women’s cricket team and for the Western Province in domestic competitions.

Wollvaardt has been a regular feature for the Western Province U-19 team, and it was in the summer of 2013 that she impressed the selectors with her batting and as a result was invited to play for a South Africa Women’s U-19 invitational team. 

She was later named the Cricket South Africa U-19 player of the year, and three years later she made her international debut in an ODI match against England in the opening game of the series.

In her very second game, the Western Cape-based cricketer scored her maiden half-century and shared a 114-run partnership alongside Trisha Chetty.

In the same year, she became the youngest centurion, male or female, for South Africa in international cricket. She slammed a terrific 105 against Ireland and as a result, the Proteas won the game by 67 runs.

The following year, the talented batswoman was named the ‘Women’s Newcomer of the Year’ at Cricket South Africa’s annual award ceremony. 

The Milnerton-born was roped in by Brisbane Heat for the 2017/18 WBBL season, and three years later she went on to represent the Adelaide Strikers in the 2020 Women’s Big Bash League season.

The South African batsman was fast-tracked from a very young age by the selectors. She was nothing short of a teenage prodigy and despite being young, she has shown maturity and temperament that is required to survive at the international level. 

(As of Mar 2021)