Cricket
Wolvaardt named as Cricket World Cup dream team captain─── MORGAN PIEK 07:42 Tue, 04 Nov 2025
The dust has barely settled on a thrilling ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign, but the names of three South African stars are already being etched into the history books – a powerful sign that the Proteas Women are truly on the rise.
Despite the heartbreak of the final against hosts India, South Africa dominates the prestigious ICC Team of the Tournament selection alongside the champions and the mighty Australians, with three South African players making the elite cut – and one of them taking the top job.
Leading the charge for the Team of the Tournament – and marking a massive moment for South African cricket – is skipper Laura Wolvaardt. Forget the silver medal – this is gold-plated recognition for a player who delivered one of the most sublime individual batting performances ever seen at a global showpiece.
Laura Wolvaardt. Photo: Cricinfo
Wolvaardt wasn’t just good – she was brilliant. She finished as the competition’s leading run-scorer with a staggering 571 runs at an outstanding average of 71.37, setting a new all-time record for the highest individual run tally in an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Her majestic back-to-back centuries in the semi-final and the final – under the most intense pressure – cemented her status as a global superstar and a true captain of the game. For the skipper to be handed the armband for this World XI should be a source of immense national pride, as she knocked out national captains for the role.
Joining their captain in the dream team are two powerful all-rounders who formed the backbone of the Proteas setup in Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk.
Kapp confirmed her legendary status with yet another monumental tournament. She was named in the side after a devastating display with both bat and ball – chipping in with two crucial half-centuries but, more importantly, becoming the all-time leading wicket-taker in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup history.
Her stunning figures of 5 for 20 against England in the semi-final were a masterclass in knockout cricket, bowling the Proteas into their maiden final. She’s a warrior, pure and simple.
Marizanne Kapp. Photo: Cricinfo
The emergence of De Klerk as a world-class finisher was equally compelling. Her inclusion is a nod to her game-changing versatility.
Who can forget her unbeaten 84 from 54 balls that downed India by three wickets in the league stage? It was a fearless, high-octane knock that embodies the new era of South African cricket, one of playing brave cricket.
De Klerk’s all-round contribution – with nine wickets to boot – was the glue that kept the campaign charging forward.
Nadine de Klerk. Photo: Cricinfo
This selection is not just a collection of great players - it’s a powerful validation of the sheer talent bubbling over in South African women’s cricket.
From the captain’s historic run record to Kapp’s legendary prowess and De Klerk’s fearless finishing, the Proteas have announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with – not a flash in the pan.
2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Dream Team:
Smriti Mandhana (India), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa – captain), Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Deepti Sharma (India), Annabel Sutherland (Australia), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sidra Nawaz (Pakistan – wicketkeeper), Alana King (Australia), Sophie Ecclestone (England); 12th player Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
