By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen are the only South Africans nominated for 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards.
Wolvaardt was at her sublime best in 2024, scoring over 1500 runs in all formats, and led from the front as South Africa reached their second successive Women’s T20 World Cup final in the UAE.
The 25-year-old led South Africa to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Final, where she top scored for the Proteas as they emerged runners-up in the tournament, losing out to the White Ferns in the decider. Wolvaardt was also the leading run-getter at the tournament.
She has been a force to reckon with for the Proteas, leading the team from the front as the all-format skipper and piling up runs when needed at the top of the batting order.
Wolvaardt leads the charts as the premier batter in the 50-over format in the ICC Women’s rankings for batters in ODIs. Her absolute best with the bat came when she scored her career-best 184 not out against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom in April.
ICC Awards 2024 – the complete shortlists
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Harry Brook (ENG), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Travis Head (AUS), Joe Root (ENG)
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Annabel Sutherland (AUS), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year; Harry Brook (ENG), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Kamindu Mendis (SL), Joe Root (ENG)
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Wanindu Hasaranga (SL), Kusal Mendis (SL), Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG), Sherfane Rutherford (WI)
ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Smriti Mandhana (IND), Annabel Sutherland (AUS), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Babar Azam (PAK), Travis Head (AUS), Sikandar Raza (ZIM), Arshdeep Singh (IND)
ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Orla Prendergast (IRE), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Gus Atkinson (ENG), Saim Ayub (PAK), Shamar Joseph (WI), Kamindu Mendis (SL)
ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year;Annerie Dercksen (SA), Saskia Horley (SCO), Shreyanka Patil (IND), Freya Sargent (IRE)
Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be announced in late January 2025.