Zaahier Adams
It was a five-star performance from Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt at the Cricket South Africa Awards in Midrand last night.
Wolvaardt cleared the table by winning a full hand of awards, including the SA Women’s Cricketer of the Year award. The top-order batter also took the Women’s T20 Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and KFC Fans’ Player of the Year awards.
Wolvaardt is a second time winner of the SA Women’s Cricketer Award after last being honoured in 2020.
The men’s category sprung a surprise with Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen winning the SA Men’s Cricketer of the Year award for his performances across all three formats. It was 24-year-old Jansen’s first time winning the biggest individual prize in South African Men’s cricket.
“I would like to congratulate every single one of our winners for the excellence they displayed over the past 12 months,” Cricket SA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said.
“It has been a promising year all round for South African cricket, and proof of that is in results as well as the growth of the game.
“Laura and Marco are the winners of our premier awards and they have worked hard to achieve this recognition. We saw Laura elevated to captain of the Proteas Women, a responsibility she has thrived on.
“Marco, too, has enjoyed a phenomenal season, which culminated with his role as the Proteas Men enjoyed a strong campaign at the 50-over World Cup in India.”
Elsewhere, in the men’s international categories, David Bedingham, who was fresh off a List A career-best 188 not out struck earlier in the week, scooped the International Men’s Newcomer of the Year and Test Player of the Year awards.
Bedingham made his Test debut against India last season and made an immediate impression by scoring 404 runs in six matches at an average of 40.04, including a maiden Test century against New Zealand in Hamilton.
Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee was named the Men’s T20 International Player of the Year, while Quinton de Kock received the Men’s One-Day International Player of the Year award in his final 50-over season with the Proteas. Keshav Maharaj was voted by his peers as the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year.
Eliz-Mari Marx earned the International Women’s Newcomer of the Year accolade.
Lions spinner Nqaba Peter was named both the Men’s Domestic Newcomer Player of the Season and T20 Challenge Player of the Season. Peter claimed 20 wickets in the competition, which also earned him a Proteas cap on the tour to the Caribbean.
His Lions teammate and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was awarded the 4-Day Domestic Player of the Season title and Western Province all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana the One-Day Cup Player of the Season prize.
Russell Domingo of the Lions was named the Men’s Division 1 Coach of the Year after leading his team to both the 4-Day and T20 championship titles, while JP Triegaardt of the Knights the Men’s Division 2 Coach of the Year after guiding the Bloemfontein franchise back to the CSA First Division.
The Women’s Division 1 Coach of the Year award went to Western Province’s Claire Terblanche after her side won the Women’s 1-Day Cup.
Allahudien Palekar was recognised as the CSA Umpire of the Year and the CSA Umpires’ Umpire of the Year.
“On the domestic front, we are continuing to see talent blossom and congratulations to all the winners in that category as well. Let us not forget to acknowledge our umpires, grounds staff and scorers, too,” Moseki said.
“So, from everyone at Cricket South Africa, we are proud of all of you!”
Earlier in the day, new Proteas cap Kwena Maphaka won the SA U19 Player of the Year title. Maphaka, 18, has since gone on to become the youngest capped Protea ever.
INTERNATIONAL CRICKET AWARDS
Men
NEWCOMER: David Bedingham
T20: Gerald Coetzee
ODI: Marco Jansen
TEST: David Bedingham
PLAYERS' PLAYER: Keshav Maharaj
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marco Jansen
Women
NEWCOMER: Elzi-Mari Marx
T20: Laura Wolvaardt
ODI: Laura Wolvaardt
PLAYERS' PLAYER: Laura Wolvaardt
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Laura Wolvaardt