GET ready for Laura Wolvaardt 3.0!
That’s the message from the Proteas Women’s captain after she cleaned the floor at the Cricket South Africa Awards this week.
Wolvaardt won an unprecedented five awards, including the prestigious SA Women’s Cricketer of the Year prize.
At 25, the skipper is approaching the peak stage of her career, and after playing international cricket for the best part of a decade already due to making her Proteas debut at the tender age of 16, Wolvaardt is now ready to take her game to the next level ahead of next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
“We were a 1.0 when I just started, then a 2.0 when I sort of got the hang of it, and this season I feel there has definitely been a switch in terms of the way I play my cricket,” Wolvaardt said.
“It’s definitely more aggressive. It’s been a mindset change. I actually think it’s Laura 3.0 now!”
The change in approach has certainly been most evident in Wolvaardt’s T20 game.
Having originally been typecast as one-dimensional and over-reliant on that gorgeous cover drive of hers, Wolvaardt has expanded her game tremendously over the past 12 months.
In conjunction with the Proteas Women’s team’s new batting coach Baakier Abrahams’ approach, Wolvaardt has been able to unlock her full potential.
The leading run-scorer at the last T20 World Cup on home soil is now even more dynamic, averaging 48.55 at a strike-rate of 127.40 over the last 12 months, including a maiden T20I century.
Playing in the various T20 leagues around the world has, of course, benefited Wolvaardt, but it has been more her dedication to the craft that has led to her now being one of the most feared short-format batters in the global women's game.
“To almost not be considered a T20 player a few years ago to now has been a long, massive journey for me,” Wolvaardt admitted.
“I started opening the batting and it went pretty poorly for me in 2018/19. I got dropped down to four, five and there I felt that I was finding my feet a little when the field was spread.
“But I had a lot of gym work to do, and lots of technical work to do on power hitting, where before I had just like one shot – the cover drive.
“I had to add a lot more options to be successful because people had sort of figured me out.
“It was also just how I played the game. I had come in and just wanted to whack it, whereas now I can play my way, which was something I had to figure out.”
The glorious run with the willow has coincided with Wolvaardt taking over the leadership of the national team after the T20 World Cup last year.
From the outside, it seemed like a natural progression for the outrageously talented batter, but personally, it was going to be a challenge for the introverted Wolvaardt.
She has taken it all her stride, though, gaining the respect of both senior and younger teammates.
“That was one of my concerns when I took over the captaincy in terms of how it would affect my personal game,” Wolvaardt said.
“I think it’s affected me in a good way. I focus more on what I need to do for the team.
“It has brought the best out of me as a batter. I think even more about the game in a tactical way.
“I think when you are just a batter, you focus solely on yourself sometimes. It has given me a more global view on the game.
“It would be awkward as a captain of you struggling for runs and trying to tell other people what to do.
“It definitely helps. I am more of a quiet and reserved type of person. I am still getting the hang of giving big motivational speeches.
“I am trying to lead by example and do the right thing, and hopefully people follow.”
In just under a month’s time, Wolvaardt will face one of the biggest tests of her career. She will be leading the Proteas to the T20 World Cup in the UAE, where the nation expects the team to return with the trophy after finishing runners-up to the all-conquering Australians last year at Newlands.
“Yes, it’s my first World Cup as captain. When I saw the announcement of the squads, I must admit I got a bit nervous,” she admitted.
“It’s quite a big deal. Every game you have to prepare for new opposition.
“The nice thing about the UAE is that it’s neutral territory for everyone. There is no real home team. It will be interesting. Whoever adapts to the conditions best will stand a chance.
“Obviously knowing we can make finals is a monkey off our back. We made three semi-finals and couldn’t get past that hurdle.
“Realistically, we stand a good chance to make the semis from our group, and I think we will be disappointed if we don't get out of our group.
“From thereon, we don’t know what the draw will be for the semi-finals and anything can happen in knockout cricket.”