If Laura Wolvaardt’s teammates were wondering why she was even quieter than usual these past few months, all became clearer a few days before the Proteas Women departed for the World Cup with confirmation she’d completed a BSc degree.
As she finished courses and papers online, coffee and hotel wi-fi were her allies. She probably withdrew even more into herself, adding to the challenges she has as captain — the most significant being that she’s simply “not a people’s person”.
She admitted: “I’m not the most social person under the sun.”
And as a captain of a cricket team, that can be awkward. For as Wolvaardt points out, she’s good with the tactical side of leadership, finding enjoyment from attending meetings with bowlers and setting fields. However, there’s another side to leading a team in the sport that requires a personal touch. “The ‘people side’ of it is the harder part for me.”
Wolvaardt’s captaincy was not planned. Unlike one of her predecessors, Dane van Niekerk, she didn’t do an interview with Cricket South Africa (CSA), laying out a vision for the team. Rather, when Van Niekerk, initially through injury and then retirement — which she has subsequently reversed — vacated the position, it was given to Sune Luus, who was a reluctant skipper.
Luus asked not to be considered for the role after leading the team to the final of the 2023 T20 World Cup, where Wolvaardt found herself thrust into the position. “It was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t say no to,” she said.
More relaxed leadership
She had to learn on the job, all while the team was in an extended transition and CSA was falling over itself about what to do regarding the head coaching position.
Two years later, heading to her third ODI World Cup and her second ICC tournament as captain, Wolvaardt is more relaxed about leadership. “I’d like to think now I know lots more about captaincy in general, building plans, field settings, and that sort of thing. It makes you see the game in a different way,” she said.
The people side of it remains a work in progress but she is grateful for the input of head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who was appointed last December. “There’s no way to do your homework on dealing with different people. It’s just trying to communicate as well as I can, and I try to do it in a way that is authentic to me,” she said.
“I know my strengths and weaknesses; I’m not the person who is going to give an amazing five minute speech off the cuff, to inspire the team. I’m more of a ‘one-on-one conversation’ type, who checks in with people. I’m fortunate that with coach Mandla, he is the total opposite to me. He’s loud, social, he chats, he checks in with people all the time... he’s been amazing in helping me more with the social side. He’ll set up scenarios for me — like setting up a chat between three people and have me involved.”
From being someone who kept to herself on tour — whether through studying, or focusing on her batting — Wolvaardt has had to open up. “As someone who likes to keep to themselves, that has been a big adjustment, personality wise. But I think it has helped me grow in a good way.
“I’d like to think I’ve improved my people skills quite a bit in the last two years — maybe I’m a bit less awkward in some situations. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, it’s taken some practice, but it’s slowly becoming more comfortable.”
Rare talent
Wolvaardt burst onto the international scene as an 18-year-old at the 2017 World Cup, a tournament which — thanks to India’s surprising run to the semifinals — suddenly elevated the status of women’s cricket. A rare talent, she scored four half-centuries and was named in the team of the tournament.
As franchise leagues were established in Australia, England and later India, Wolvaardt became one of the most sought-after players. “The level of women’s cricket has really grown in the last five years,” she said.
“With all these leagues, so many more domestic players are exposed to a higher standard of cricket, and just playing more cricket throughout the year. You will see a 19-year-old in the Australian team playing shots that I haven’t even worked on; it’s the same with England and India.”
It’s one of the reasons this year’s World Cup is forecast to be one of the most competitive yet, with Wolvaardt’s Proteas one of the main contenders. She exudes a calmness she feels has helped her teammates, and which she hopes will help them overcome the hurdle of reaching finals — as they’ve done in the last two T20 World Cups — but failed to get across the finish line.
“With me not being overly loud — I don’t shout, or speak badly of people in the moment [when mistakes occur] — we have a sense of calm, and everyone is focused on what they need to do,” said Wolvaardt.
“There’s a lot more bravery, you see it with the bat in particular. We’ve scored 300 a lot more recently than we have before. I’d like to think that comes from a curiosity to be able to push the boundaries, because we know that it is a safer space.”
Pressure as captain
Already, the most scrutinised player for South Africa’s opponents, Wolvaardt faces extra pressure as captain. Not only from all the off the field obligations, but her responsibility as the team’s best batter and a central figure in the brains trust.
“There is no set way of going about the captaincy and if I try to do it in a way that is super social or super loud, or super out there, I will just exhaust myself and not be very genuine in what I do.”
Completing a BSc cum laude while travelling the globe, unleashing stylish cover drives, indicates how determined Wolvaardt is when she sets her mind towards achieving a goal. The next target is clear.
“I mainly want to win the World Cup. Every day when I train, when we are playing in a series, I’m picturing how [through what I’m doing] it will help us win the World Cup. It’s a bit stressful, the moment is here.”
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