Batter Laura Wolvaardt has said now is the “right time” to “push” the women’s game in South Africa, following the team’s success at the T20 World Cup.
Despite their defeat to Australia in Cape Town, the Proteas made history by becoming the first South African side – male or female – to reach the final of limited overs World Cup.
The tournament on home soil caught the imagination of the South African public, with victories against Bangladesh, New Zealand and England in the semi-finals.
“We didn’t expect crowds like that at all and to see how the game sort of helps to unite everyone, they all came together to support us, which was really awesome to see,” said Wolvaardt.
“We really felt all of the support on the field – and off the field as well with all of the messages and things like that we were getting.”
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The 23-year-old, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 230 runs from six innings, says administrators should now look to strike while the iron is hot.
“This is definitely the right time to try to push the women’s game but it would have to be on all levels, from grassroots structures all the way up so as to build a bit more depth coming into our national team.
“I’m really hoping we get a lot more support.”
