By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt returns to familiar ground on Friday evening, marking ten years since her international debut as South Africa face Pakistan in the second T20 International at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The match begins at 18:00 SAST in Ekurhuleni, with live coverage on SuperSport Grandstand and SABC 3. South Africa lead the series 1 0 after a tense five wicket victory in Potchefstroom, powered by a dream debut from all rounder Kayla Reyneke and decisive contributions from Wolvaardt and Ayanda Hlubi.
For Wolvaardt, the occasion carries added weight. It was at this venue on 7 February 2016 that a 16 year old schoolgirl from Cape Town made her One Day International debut against England. A decade on, she returns not as a prodigy finding her feet, but as one of the world’s premier batters and the leader of the national side.
“It’s crazy. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already,” the 26 year old reflected ahead of the fixture. “I still remember being a 16 year old making my debut here in Benoni. I was just happy to get a game, let alone playing for 10 years for my country.”
Her growth has paralleled the rapid professionalisation of the women’s game. With more than 212 international appearances and over 8,000 runs across formats, Wolvaardt now sits at number one in the ICC ODI batting rankings. Yet she remains candid about her early limitations.
“As a 16 year old, I didn’t have much power. I kind of just had a cover drive and was pretty one dimensional and batted quite slowly. I don’t know if I was ready for international cricket at that stage. I’ve worked on a lot of areas, opened up more scoring options, got stronger and focused on power hitting. I like the way my game has evolved, and there’s still so much room for improvement in the next 10 years, which is exciting.”
Appointed permanent captain in December 2023, Wolvaardt has already led South Africa to two global finals, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and the country’s maiden appearance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final last year.
She believes leadership has sharpened her cricketing mind. “It’s been great for my development. I think about the game very differently now. Before, I was focused on my own game plan. Now I’m thinking about conditions, bowlers, what my bowlers are trying to do and what fields to set.
“In a match you’re constantly thinking about strategy, so when I bat it almost feels like my own space. I can relax and just focus on the ball. It’s taken my mind off the pressure.” As she looks ahead, one ambition remains clear. “Every cricketer wants to win a World Cup. That’s the main goal for me. I’ve come close three times, but it’s exciting to know I still have another decade to try again.”
On Friday, the next chapter begins where it all started.