Laura Wolvaardt and Marco Jansen honoured as players of the year

Laura Wolvaardt and Marco Jansen were crowned as the SA Women’s and Men’s Players of the Year in their respective categories at the annual Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards at Vodaworld in Midrand on Thursday night.

Wolvaardt, who took the reigns as captain of the Proteas Women this past season, achieved the truly remarkable feat of collecting five awards, including the Women’s T20 International Player of the Year, one-day international Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. She was also voted the Fans’ Player of the Year. This is the second time the 25-year-old has won the coveted Women’s Player of the Year award, after winning it in 2020.

Meanwhile, first-time recipient Jansen was recognised for his all-round efforts in a season that saw the 24-year-old go from strength to strength as a key member of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 squad and notable contributions in the test arena.

Elsewhere in the men’s international categories, World Sports Betting Western Province batter David Bedingham scooped the International Men’s Newcomer of the Year and test Player of the Year awards.

Reeza Hendricks was named the Men’s T20 International Player of the Year, while Quinton de Kock received the Men’s one-day international Player of the Year award in his final 50-over season with the Proteas. Keshav Maharaj was voted by his peers as the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year. Eliz-Mari Marx earned herself the International Women’s Newcomer of the Year.

The Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC was courtesy of wonderfully pitched-up inswinger from Marizanne Kapp that forced Australia’s Beth Mooney to play down the wrong line, with the ball expertly disturbing her stumps.

The Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award seeks to demonstrate the ability of this game to change lives and communities. Proteas Women’s seamer Masabata Klaas is a person who has lived a changed life through cricket.

The 33-year-old has played the bulk of her storied international career as a mother to Rethabile, with the power of womanhood allowing her to work and return to cricket. Klaas missed at least three years of cricket, but returned to become not just a revered member of the Proteas Women’s team, but a mentor to younger players.

DP World Lions spinner Nqaba Peter was named both the Men’s Domestic Newcomer Player of the Season and T20 Challenge Player of the Season. His Lions teammate and allrounder Wiaan Mulder was awarded the 4-Day Domestic Player of the Season and Western Province allrounder Mihlali Mpongwana the One-Day Cup Player of the Season.

Source: Supersport

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