The Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards are a prestigious annual event that highlights the achievements of both international and domestic players from the previous season. The ceremony is a platform to honour the standout performances of South African cricketers, and this year's event was no exception. Laura Wolvaardt, captain of South Africa’s women’s team, emerged as the star of the night, taking home five awards, including the coveted Women’s Player of the Year, after a phenomenal 2023-24 season.
Wolvaardt’s contributions during the season were nothing short of remarkable. Not only did she assume the leadership of the team permanently, but she also finished as South Africa’s top run-scorer in both ODIs and T20Is. Her efforts earned her both the Women’s ODI Player of the Year and Women’s T20I Player of the Year titles. Moreover, her popularity within the cricketing community was evident as she secured the Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year honours.
Men's Category
Joining Wolvaardt in the winners’ circle was Marco Jansen, who was named Men’s Player of the Year. His all-round performances, particularly his 17 wickets at the ODI World Cup and his contributions in the Boxing Day Test against India, solidified his position as one of South Africa’s top talents.
These awards cover the period from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, meaning the performances at the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup and the Test and T20I series in the West Indies will be recognised at next year’s ceremony. The reason the awards take place in September, rather than immediately after the season in May, is to ensure all nationally contracted players can attend—something that would be impossible during the IPL.
Selecting the Test Player of the Year
With South Africa only playing four Tests during the award period—two against India and two against a weakened New Zealand side—selecting a Test Player of the Year was no easy task. David Bedingham, however, stood out for his debut 56 against India and his scores of 87 and 110 during the New Zealand series. His efforts earned him the title of International Newcomer of the Year.
De Kock and Hendricks in White-Ball Cricket
In the white-ball formats, Quinton de Kock was named ODI Player of the Year, largely thanks to his incredible four centuries at the 2023 World Cup. Reeza Hendricks, meanwhile, claimed the T20I Player of the Year award, having been the only South African batter to score a half-century during the award period.
Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner, was recognised by his peers as the Players’ Player of the Year after defying expectations to return from an Achilles injury three months ahead of schedule and compete in the ODI World Cup.
Female Cricketers in the Spotlight
Two major awards were claimed by female players this year. Marizanne Kapp’s stunning inswinger, which bowled Beth Mooney in South Africa’s first ODI victory over Australia, earned her the Best Delivery of the Season award, sponsored by KFC. Meanwhile, Masabata Klaas was honoured with the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award, which recognises players who have overcome adversity to succeed in the game. This marked the first time a female cricketer received the award.
Klaas, a single mother, has had an inspiring journey in cricket. After giving birth to her daughter Rethabile in 2013, she took a three-year break from the game but managed to return to professional cricket with the support of her mother. Klaas became the 10th woman to take a hat-trick in ODIs, achieved against Pakistan in 2019, and is now among South Africa’s top wicket-takers in both ODIs and T20Is. Her story of resilience has made her a role model, and she has taken on a mentoring role for younger players in the women’s team.
Domestic Stars Emerge
On the domestic front, leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter was named Men’s Domestic Newcomer of the Season after leading the Lions to victory in the CSA T20 Cup and making his international debut in June. He was also recognised as the T20 Challenge Player of the Season. Lions all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who was the third-highest run-scorer and took 16 wickets in the first-class competition, claimed the Four-Day Domestic Player of the Season award.
Western Province’s Mihlali Mpongwana, who finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup, was awarded One-Day Domestic Player of the Season. Among the women, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba took home the Women’s One-Day Player of the Season award, while Tazmin Brits, the top run-scorer in the domestic T20 competition with three centuries, was named Women’s T20 Player of the Season.
The CSA Awards continue to be a key event in recognising the incredible talent within South African cricket. From rising stars like Marco Jansen and Masabata Klaas to established names like Laura Wolvaardt and Quinton de Kock, the night was a celebration of both individual excellence and team spirit. As the cricket world looks ahead to another exciting year, these awards serve as a reminder of the dedication, skill, and resilience that define South Africa’s cricketing landscape.