Laura Wolvaardt interview | Women’s World Cup 2025: Self-confessed cricket nerd, life sciences graduate and South Africa captain who is growing into a leader

After finishing high school, Wolvaardt decided to take the plunge into cricket full-time but completed a Bachelor of Sciences (Life Sciences) course over the last few years, because she just loves studying. And once she decides to move on from cricket, she might continue doing so.

“I am a big nerd. I had to do something on the side just to keep that option open for me after cricket,” she told The Indian Express after South Africa’s thrilling win against India in Visakhapatnam that set them on their way to the semifinals. “At the time, when I decided to play cricket and not study, it felt like a bit of a risk because women’s cricket wasn’t nearly where it is today. And I haven’t regretted my decision. I’ve absolutely loved playing cricket for as long as I have and to see the women’s game grow while I’ve been playing has been awesome.”

Wolvaardt admits she is a full-fledged cricket nerd too, watching the England vs Sri Lanka match in the background during the conversation. And she knows her stats by heart.

“Oh, I like stats. I like watching cricket; I watch a lot of women’s cricket. And I like my own stats and numbers around the game and stuff like that,” she smiles.

Mention the parallels in her and Smriti Mandhana’s career, as they have largely similar ODI stats, she laughs.

“It’s sort of like a competition, but I don’t think she knows that she’s taking part in it, so don’t tell her! Yes, I’ve noticed that we’ve always had pretty similar stats. She’s gone ahead of me a bit in the 100s column recently. It’s been cool to just watch her bat. I’ve obviously played with her a bit at Adelaide Strikers, so I got to know her a little, and she’s pretty nice as well.”

Much like Mandhana, Wolvaardt’s game is about timing and a copybook technique, but she has had to work hard on her power-hitting game.

“I was like a lanky, skinny teenager when I started, so I definitely had to work hard to be a bit stronger and a bit more coordinated. It’s a combination of figuring out how to do it with the bat, but also gym work, making sure I’m strong enough to do it. Start of my career, I probably didn’t have many aerial options, but now I do. I didn’t go to the gym much in high school at all, only starting when I was 19-20.”

Constant evolution

When Wolvaardt burst onto the scene in 2016, she made heads turn with her cover drive and square drive – still regarded as one of the best in the sport. But she had to consciously work on improving her leg-side game, which has been showcased during the World Cup.

With 301 runs, she is third on the run-scorers chart behind Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, and will be the wicket that England will be hoping to get early when they meet in the semifinal in Guwahati on Wednesday.

“I’ve had to work on my leg-side game, because teams figured out pretty quickly in my career that I mainly played just a cover drive, and they started bowling really straight to me,” she says. “Not many people give me much width anymore. It’s just something that I’ve had to develop to score runs, scoring on the legside. Nowadays, people bowl straight to me; it’s almost become the only place to score. I have had to break a lot of old habits, sort of playing around the ball, and try to play the on-drive. I think when my on-drive is good, my leg-side play is normally good,” Wolvaardt said.

Having been made South Africa’s captain a couple of years ago, Wolvaardt admitted to having self-doubts early but has eased into the role over the past few months. Working with new head coach Mandla Mashimbyi has helped her.

South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt celebrates her fifty runs during during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Oct, 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

“In the last six months, I’m feeling more and more confident. I feel like I’m making decisions that make more sense. In the past, I didn’t know much about bowling or about angles. I just sort of batted and focused on myself whereas now I feel like I’m starting to learn the ins and outs of it a bit better. Mandla has also helped me quite a bit from an off-the-field point of view, just to connect with my teammates a bit better. He is big on building a team culture.”

In Guwahati, she’d lead South Africa in yet another ICC event semifinal. They have often come close recently but fallen short at the business end on the big stage.

“It would be so special to win it. I think winning World Cups is the reason people play and an ODI World Cup is even more special. It would make my career. I might have to retire if we win (smiles). It won’t get much better than that.”