Laura Wolvaardt named South Africa captain in all formats

Laura Wolvaardt has been appointed South Africa Women's captain in all three formats, the CSA announced on Friday (November 24). The 24-year-old led the Proteas during the home series against Pakistan and New Zealand, both of which South Africa won 2-1, and has now been given the captaincy on a full-time basis. 

Wolvaardt has featured in 86 ODIs, 59 T20Is and one Test, scoring close to 5000 runs in international cricket. The right-handed batter has four centuries and 39 fifties to her name. In her first assignment as full-time skipper, Wolvaardt will be without Ayabonga Khaka (knee injury), Chloe Tyron (groin) and Nadine de Klerk (side strain).

South Africa have announced a 15-player squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on December 3 in Benoni. Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx are the two uncapped players, while Marizanne Kapp has been rested for the T20I series but will be back for the three ODIs, which will be part of the Women's ODI Championship 2022-25.

"Having Laura Wolvaardt as the official captain, together with a blend of young and experienced players bodes well for our succession planning. It will also assist within the excitement we have around the squad in giving young players an opportunity and therefore we are looking forward to seeing them put up their hand and make impactful performances in this upcoming tour,” said the Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez.

"We are excited to provide an opportunity to our extended identified group, especially on the back of some injuries. This allows us to have an indepth look at players for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup taking place next year in Bangladesh.

"The inclusion of Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx gives great confidence to rewarding performances at the professional level. They have been instrumental with their domestic performances in the past season for their respective provinces,"

Meanwhile, head coach Hilton Moreeng said: "From our perspective, it is about continuing the good work that has been done. We know we are playing against Bangladesh who just came off a very successful tour against Pakistan.

"For the T20Is, this is where we are going to look, where possible, to blend in youngsters and give an opportunity to expose them at this level to keep growing the base. Overall, we have a lot of good youngsters coming through and the squad is becoming stronger and stronger every day with a more challenging environment, so we as a team are looking forward to that.

"It's another opportunity for some of these youngsters to show what they can do while not losing sight of what we want to achieve overall when it comes to the entire tour."

T20I Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker.