'Will lead from my actions' - Laura Wolvaardt 'excited' for South Africa's interim captaincy role

Laura Wolvaardt, the 24-year-old South African cricketer known for her impressive batting skills, has stepped up to the plate as the interim captain for the South African women's cricket team. With Sune Luus leaving the captaincy, Wolvaardt will lead the team through in the upcoming series against Pakistan and New Zealand.

This role presents an opportunity for her to test her leadership abilities while maintaining her batting prowess. This two-series stint will determine whether she can effectively balance her captaincy duties with her batting performance.

Meanwhile, Wolvaardt's approach to captaincy is clear - a "soft-spoken" leader who prefers to "lead through my actions." 

"It was important for the next two tours for it [captaincy] to be more of an interim position to see if it's something I am able to handle and if I can still focus on my batting with the added responsibility," as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Despite her young age, Wolvaardt boasts considerable experience in international cricket. Having debuted at a young age, she already holds impressive rankings on South Africa's all-time highest run-getters lists.  She has also participated in multiple World Cups and gained exposure in various cricket leagues worldwide.

Coach Hilton Moreeng is confident that Wolvaardt's disciplined approach and understanding of both roles will ensure success. "She is a very disciplined cricketer. The way she goes about her game is evident to everyone in the team. I don't think the responsibility will impact her performance," Moreeng said. "She knows the importance of both roles she plays in the team. We don't think it should be a challenge regarding her performances," he said.

Wolvaardt's decision to take on the captaincy role was met with excitement. "It's definitely always something that has been in the back of my mind," she admitted.

Previously, she refrained from expressing interest out of respect for her predecessors. However, the opportunity arose, and she was eager to embrace the challenge. "I think it will test me as a cricketer and develop my game as well," she stated optimistically.

With her calm behaviour, Wolvaardt plans to lead by example, focusing on leading from the front. "I am a little bit more soft-spoken than what other captains might be. I am just going to try and lead from my actions and lead from the front. Hopefully, that's alright," she added.