Laura Wolvaardt

Early in her career, Laura Wolvaardt fit neatly into the template of a child prodigy. She made her debut for Western Cape when she was still in her teens. She scored her first international century - 105 against Ireland - in an ODI just four months after making her South Africa debut in 2016. That made her the youngest century-maker for South Africa, male or female, across formats. It would be the first of many big innings for her.

Wolvaardt has gone on to combine her run-scoring ability with an appetite for big innings, and became only the third woman in the history of the game to score centuries across the three international formats when she made 122 against India in a Test in Chennai in June 2024. That came in her third Test. She has only played one more to date.

Just a year prior, Wolvaardt was made South Africa captain for all three formats. She led them to the final of the T20 World Cup that South Africa hosted in 2024, also ending it as the leading run-scorer for them in the tournament. She had done the same in the previous T20 World Cup, when, like in 2024, South Africa were the losing finalists.

Wolvaardt has been in big demand outside the international arena as well, at the WBBL, The Hundred and the WPL, being a consistent pick at the top of the order for franchises for her stylish strokeplay - the cover drive is a thing of beauty - and heavy run-scoring in the shortest format of the game.