In the 50-over format, stalwarts and rising stars alike have carried the weight of expectations with unwavering determination and match-winning flair. Cricket South Africa is proud to present five nominees for the Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloe Tryon, and Laura Wolvaardt, each showcasing remarkable feats, memorable milestones, and sheer class under pressure. Let’s meet the heroes who have consistently raised the bar for South African cricket.
Annerie Dercksen
Annerie Dercksen is quickly carving a name for herself as one of South Africa’s most exciting all-round talents in the ODI format. She truly arrived on the international scene during the 2025 Women’s ODI Tri-Series in Sri Lanka, where she stunned the cricketing world with a breathtaking 104 off just 84 balls, her maiden international century. Coming in at No. 7, Dercksen’s knock was not only the second-ever WODI century from that position but also the cornerstone of a record-breaking 112-run seventh-wicket partnership with Chloe Tryon.
Before this breakthrough, Dercksen had modest numbers from just a handful of games, but that one innings elevated her status from promising player to future star. She added 69 runs in 3 ODIs in the 2024-25 season, and impressed with the ball, taking 5 wickets. Her all-round ability is equally evident with the ball, claiming 10 wickets in ODIs, including best figures of 3/16. With a total of 399 runs to her name, she offers the perfect blend of aggression, composure, and utility, earning herself the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year.
Marizanne Kapp
Marizanne Kapp stands as a pillar of South African women’s cricket, a generational all-rounder whose career is defined by consistency, grit, and brilliance. With a commanding tally of 3182 runs and 167 wickets in 151 ODIs, Kapp continues to be the heartbeat of the team. Her career-best figures of 5/45 underline her potency with the ball, while her calmness in pressure-filled situations has turned many a match in South Africa’s favour.
Over the years, she has adapted seamlessly to evolving roles, anchoring innings, breaking partnerships, and often rescuing the side with both bat and ball. In the 2024-25 season, she led the wickets tally with 7 to her name in just 3 outings and also added 60 runs with the bat. Kapp’s tactical intelligence, unmatched work ethic, and vast international experience make her not only a leader in the dressing room but a benchmark of excellence in women’s ODIs globally.
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Nonkululeko Mlaba’s rise as a dependable spinner has added a fresh dimension to South Africa’s bowling attack in ODIs. With 36 wickets in 34 matches, she has steadily built a reputation as a game-changer in the middle overs. Her best ODI figures of 4/33 showcase her ability to dismantle opposition line-ups with discipline, flight, and subtle variations. The past season saw her two wickets in 3 ODIs and was economical at 6.06.
Mlaba may not have the volume of matches under her belt yet, but what she brings is impact, tight lines, dot-ball pressure, and crucial breakthroughs. Her performances during high-stakes tournaments, particularly the World Cup, have shown her temperament under pressure and her readiness to step up when the stakes are high. As she continues to mature in the 50-over format, Mlaba is positioning herself as the face of South African spin bowling for years to come.
Chloe Tryon
Chloe Tryon’s explosive ability with both bat and ball makes her one of the most dynamic all-rounders in world cricket today. In a standout performance during the Sri Lanka tri-series in May 2025, Tryon produced an all-round masterclass—blasting 74 off just 51 balls and then claiming her maiden five-wicket haul (5/34), which included a sensational hat-trick. That achievement placed her among an elite trio of South African women to register a WODI hat-trick, joining legends Dane van Niekerk and Masabata Klaas.
In the 2024-25 season, she scalped a wicket in two ODI innings and chipped in with 65 runs. Overall, with 2112 ODI runs and 54 wickets across 93 matches, Tryon brings balance and firepower to South Africa’s middle order. Her highest score of 92 reflects her ability to take on any bowling attack, while her evolving bowling skills provide a match-winning edge. Whether stabilizing a faltering innings or turning the game around with the ball, Tryon is a proven match-winner who continues to shine on the international stage.
Laura Wolvaardt
Laura Wolvaardt is the gold standard of grace, technique, and consistency in the ODI arena. At just 24, she has already amassed a staggering 4519 runs, including eight centuries with a high score of unbeaten 184*, one of the highest individual scores in the history of women’s ODIs. Her innings are more than just run tallies; they are masterclasses in timing, poise, and calculated aggression. The past season was no different as she led South Africa’s batting tally with 155 runs in 3 outings.
Wolvaardt’s record-breaking feats include surpassing Mignon du Preez to become South Africa’s youngest and fastest to multiple ODI centuries. She has anchored the batting order through rebuilding phases and series-defining moments, often carrying the weight of expectations with calm authority. Beyond numbers, Wolvaardt embodies the future of women’s cricket, a leader with a bat in hand, a role model for aspiring cricketers, and an unrelenting force in the global ODI circuit.
These five players have powered South African cricket with unmatched dedication and brilliance in ODIs, be it Dercksen’s sixth-wicket fireworks, Kapp’s multi-format mastery, Mlaba’s evolving spin craft, Tryon’s historic all-round performance, or Wolvaardt’s record-smashing consistency. As CSA Awards 2025 nears, we celebrate their remarkable impact and eagerly await to honor the Women’s ODI Player of the Year.
