In 18 dramatic months, Laura Wolvaardt’s life has changed forever.
She assumed the Proteas captaincy during some of the most chaotic times that the South African Women’s team has known.
Not only did she displace her good friend Suné Luus – who only a couple of months before had led the first South African senior team to a World Cup final – but also inherited a dressing room split straight down the middle due to the uncertainty surrounding long-serving coach Hilton Moreeng.
She also saw premier fast bowler Shabnim Ismail call time on her international career.
Moreeng has since departed the environment he served for 12 long years, but there’s still been no permanent replacement to fill the void of head coach, with Dillon du Preez in charge on an interim basis.
It has been left to Wolvaardt, along with a newly-formed interim support staff, to mould a bewildered team on demanding tours to Australia, India and Pakistan, along with home series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
It should therefore almost be seen as a miracle that the Proteas are now standing on the verge of history again in tonight’s T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia in Dubai (4pm start).
United As One 🏏🌍📸
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 16, 2024
Every challenge, every game, we rise together. Now to conquer the semi-final on Thursday!
Let’s make history, Proteas Women! 💪🖼️#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #T20WorldCup #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/RUnq3zwQ9A
But to achieve this, Wolvaardt and her team must get past the Australian juggernauts, the team which they fell short to in last year’s Newlands final, in a third consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final.
“Big evening for everyone. It’s just about getting in the best space to be ready. We’ve had a year of experience. We line up a little bit differently. Obviously, no Shabnim (Ismail) in the XI, and (Annerie) Dercksen has come in and taken her spot,” the right-handed batter said.
“And we’ve also had a change in staff. Hilton is no longer with us. We’ve got a batting coach, a fielding coach, fresh faces and fresh ideas.
“I think it’s easy to get swept away with Australia and what they achieved, but at the end of the day, if we play a good game of cricket, I think we have the talent to beat them.
“We’ve showed it in the one T20 game this year, where we did.
“You can see the same with England and India, not qualifying for the semis, so T20 cricket is a bit crazy sometimes. Keep it simple, just focus on ourselves, and anything can happen on the day.”
Tazmin Brits finished the #T20WorldCup 2024 group stage as the top run-scorer 🌟
More stats 👉 https://t.co/KOnyT2tueL pic.twitter.com/JngMgemCLl
There’s no doubt that Wolvaardt has her hands full.
As the only team in this tournament to have won all four of their matches, Australia know what they are about.
The three-time defending champions have navigated a demanding group despite suffering injuries to key players such as regular captain Alyssa Healy.
The jury is still out on whether Healy, who was still walking around in a moon boot over the weekend, will take her place in the semi-final, but such is the depth of Australian cricket that they have a ready-made replacement in Tahlia McGrath.
Wolvaardt certainly knows McGrath’s leadership capabilities better than most, having played under her in two WBBL championship winning campaigns with the Adelaide Strikers.
“She is obviously a very good captain at the Strikers, has led us really well the last couple of seasons, winning those two titles. So yeah, if she is captain, I think it’ll be pretty cool for the both of us,” Wolvaardt said.
“She’s a good friend of mine, so to be out at a toss in a semi-final will be a cool moment.
“But obviously once the game starts, you know, all jokes aside, it’ll be pretty serious – and then I can go back to being a friend next month at the Strikers.”
It is this familiarity with the Australians, which includes star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon, along with Wolvaardt having all played WBBL over the past few years that should nullify the fear factor.
More importantly, though, for Wolvaardt is the fact that the Proteas finally shattered the glass ceiling, when they beat the Aussies for the first time in both an ODI and T20I on their Down Under at the beginning of the year.
From crossing fingers to semi-final focus for South Africa 🤞👊#T20WorldCup | #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/8FcFfhhuGl
“I think it’s big (having finally beaten Australia). Obviously, the last time we faced them in the World Cup, we have never ever beaten them in our history. And that’s not a nice thing to know coming into a knockout game,” the 25-year-old said.
“But knowing now that we have gives everyone a quiet confidence.
“Having that in the back of our minds will ease the nerves a little bit. That gives us a bit of positive energy in the camp, in terms of knowing if we play our best cricket, they are beatable.”
Possible Teams
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Suné Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Australia: Beth Mooney, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.