South Africa women’s cricket captain, Laura Wolvaardt, is determined to guide her team to victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE. Having come close before, Wolvaardt is eager to break the team's ICC event drought and secure the ultimate prize.
In a column for the ICC, Wolvaardt expressed her excitement about captaining South Africa at her first World Cup, describing it as both an honour and a unique challenge. "It’s very special to be allowed to lead my country, and it's going to be a whole new, different challenge for me," she wrote.
Reflecting on South Africa’s historic journey to their first-ever World Cup final in 2023, Wolvaardt acknowledged how crucial it was for the team to break barriers and push boundaries. However, she stressed that the ultimate goal is now to go one step further and lift the trophy.
"We've reached the semi-finals several times before, so advancing to the final was a huge moment for us as a group. But now, we want to go all the way," she said. "Anything can happen in a T20 final, and it’s about taking it one game at a time, trusting that we have the talent and the ability to reach the final again."
Wolvaardt is also excited about the neutral playing conditions in Dubai and Sharjah, noting that no team will have a home-ground advantage. "It will be interesting to see which team adapts best to the conditions. It's also exciting to have large crowds, as the expat community will likely support various teams."
Regarding the team's preparations, she highlighted the importance of their recent tour to India and domestic camps focused on match scenarios and T20 skills. However, she admitted that adjusting to the intense heat in the UAE will be challenging, as the team has been training in much cooler temperatures back home in South Africa.
Despite the potential challenges, Wolvaardt remains optimistic. "We’ve ticked all the boxes, and I hope our hard work will pay off at the World Cup."