Laura Wolvaardt is all set for her first ODI World Cup as captain as South Africa enters the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 as one of the favourites.South Africa, led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, on paper, the team looks solid, which aims to merge a perfect balance between exuberance and experience as they chase their maiden world title.
They have hosted the tournament once before, back in 2005, but are yet to lift the coveted trophy. However, leading up to the tournament, they underwent a well-oiled preparation round with a 2-1 series victory over Pakistan in Lahore. The Proteas will believe they have what it takes to finally break the jinx. They will kick start their campaign against England on October 3 in Guwahati.
South Africa became the fifth team to announce their squad for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The 15-member squad, skippered by Laura Wolvaardt, will arrive into the tournament scheduled to begin September 30 as one of the favorites to lift the prestigious trophy.
South Africa Team News
The squad also carries significant continuity, with 10 of the 15 players returning from the previous edition. Marizanne Kapp remains the lynchpin of the all-round department, supported by Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon, whose experience blends with the youthful energy of Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Annerie Dercksen, and Anneke Bosch. This depth provides South Africa with balance and multiple match-winning options.
The spin attack is anchored by Nonkululeko Mlaba, whose variations make her particularly suited to subcontinental conditions. She will be complemented by Luus, Tryon, and Shangase, ensuring a diverse toolkit in slow-bowling resources. Based on the variety of options in the squad ,following is the SWOT Analysis of the South African Team.
SWOT Analysis of South Africa Team
Strengths :
Reliable opening combination :
One of South Africa’s biggest assets going into the tournament is their trusted opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. Since the last World Cup, these two have given their side strong starts consistently and are, in fact, the highest scoring opening partnership duo in women’s ODIs in this time period.
Before the series against Pakistan, they had already scored 1,271 runs in 24 innings, with a staggering average of 52.95. Their best moment came in the second ODI in Lahore, when they put on a staggering 260-run partnership for the first wicket. The Proteas will be counting on their chemistry at the top to provide momentum in India and Sri Lanka and push their campaign in search of that elusive first World Cup crown.
Pool of All Rounders :
Few teams can boast an array of all-rounders in their unit like the Proteas do, headlined by the seasoned Marizanne Kapp, who has a proven track record on the big stage.
Another major strength for South Africa is the number of quality all-rounders in their side. Few teams in the tournament can match that variety. The core player is Marizanne Kapp, the most accomplished athlete of the group, who is still able to come through when it matters. Her scintillating 121* in the first ODI against Pakistan was a reminder of both her quality and capability to change games her own way. However, she will not be carrying the burden alone.
Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon come with years of experience and know exactly what is required to handle the pressures of the global stage, while younger names such as Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen bring youth and exuberance. Both are heading into their first World Cup but have already proven their value.
The 35-year-old will have the assistance of the likes of Sune Luus, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, and Anneke Bosch in the mix. Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon bring in a wealth of experience of representing the Proteas on the big stage.
Meanwhile, the likes of Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen add youthful exuberance to their lineup. The duo set to feature in their maiden Cricket World Cup have been key contributors.
De Klerk has been South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs since the 2022 Cricket World Cup. Dercksen on the other hand, was named the ICC Women’s Emerging Player of the Year for 2024. Add in Nondumiso Shangase and Anneke Bosch, and the Proteas have a well-rounded unit with plenty of options across departments.
Spin the weapon for Proteas to win :
In sub-continental conditions, spin is often the key, and South Africa will turn to Nonkululeko Mlaba to take the charge. She has been reliable over the past two years, playing a major role in helping the team secure early qualification through the ICC Women’s Championship. Since the last World Cup, Mlaba has picked up 34 wickets in 29 games, showing both control and consistency.
To amplify their chances in the sub-continental conditions, the Proteas will be looking upon their specialist spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Mlaba was consistent in her displays as the Proteas sealed an early qualification for the marquee tournament via the ICC Women’s Championship.
Since the 2022 edition of the tournament, Mlaba has notched 32 wickets from 27 matches. She has also kept the flow of runs during the middle overs in check, with her economy standing at 5.
Accompanying her in the spin department will be Chloe Tyron, Sune Luus, and Nondumiso Shangase. Just as important, she has kept batters quiet in the middle overs, with her economy rate staying around five runs an over. Backing her up will be Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, and Nondumiso Shangase, giving the Proteas a decent mix of spin options to use across different stages of the innings.
Weaknesses :
Over Reliance on openers :
Over-reliance on the Wolvaardt–Brits partnership remains a glaring concern. Middle-order collapses, especially in chases or on turning tracks, have repeatedly derailed promising starts. The absence of stalwarts like Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee, and Dane van Niekerk — three of South Africa’s most influential batters across eras — has left the lineup short of proven anchors in pressure situations.
Decision of exclusion of Dane van Niekerk :
A noticeable absentee in South Africa’s final squad is former skipper Dane van Niekerk. The 32-year-old had recently marked her return from international retirement and was named in the squad for a national training camp in August. However, the Proteas had clarified following the announcement that a potential return for van Niekerk at the World Cup would be too soon.
Another gap for South Africa is the absence of former captain Dane van Niekerk. The 32-year-old had recently come out of retirement and even joined the squad for a training camp in August, which had raised hopes of a World Cup return. But the team management made it clear that the tournament would arrive too soon for her comeback.
Van Niekerk’s record shows just how much experience the Proteas will miss. In 107 ODIs, she scored 2,175 runs at an average of over 36, while also taking 138 wickets with an economy rate of only 3.46. As skipper, she had led the team in 50 ODIs and 30 T20Is, becoming one of South Africa’s most respected cricketers.
Flashes of brilliance on the field :
A major concern for South Africa is their inconsistency. The team has shown sparks of brilliance but has struggled to put together a steady run of results. Since the start of 2024, the record has been mixed. They were swept 3-0 by India in India, went down 2–1 to England at home, and managed only one win in four matches during the tri-series in Sri Lanka, finishing at the bottom.
While they did edge past West Indies and Pakistan by 2–1 margins, both those opponents were coming off appearances in the World Cup qualifiers. Taken together, the performances suggest that the Proteas have not been at their best against the heavyweights.
Lack of experience in Pace Battery :
The bowling unit, though experienced, must adapt quickly to life without Shabnim Ismail. The team’s greatest fast bowler retired in 2023, and her absence leaves Masabata Klaas and Ayabonga Khaka with the unenviable task of leading the new-ball attack without a true strike option of comparable pedigree.
South Africa’s pacers have enjoyed a fair share of success in the leadup to the tournament in India and Sri Lanka. Of all teams, their pacers have the second-highest wickets in Women’s ODIs since the previous Cricket World Cup (150). Experienced pacer Masabata Klaas, who has the most dismissals for South Africa in ODIs since 2024 – 17 off 13 matches – will partner alongside 26-year-old Tumi Sekhukhune as the full-time pacers.
Sekhukhune, who made her ODI debut in 2018, has been more than handy with her medium pace variations. Adding to South Africa’s prospects will be their pace-bowling all-rounders, handing Laura Wolvaardt a bunch of options to go with the new ball.
Opportunities :
All-rounder Annie Dercksen is one of the most promising names in South African cricket in recent times, who is all set to make her maiden appearance at a World Cup. Despite being early in her career as an international cricketer, she has showcased promise as a future star. With 402 runs in 13 outings and 10 wickets in 11 innings, Dercksen has demonstrated she can perform with both bat and ball.
Her qualifications have also been recognized through winning the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2024, where she became South Africa’s first winner of this award. Anneke Bosch, at age 32, is also making her World Cup debut after languishing in obscurity for years. These two women can hopefully take advantage of their opportunities when they are on full display in India and Sri Lanka.
South Africa’s spirited run at the 2024 T20 World Cup showed it can compete with the very best. While lapses at key moments cost it the title, the experience of navigating high-pressure knockout games could prove decisive in India. With Wolvaardt captaining her first ODI World Cup, the leadership transition offers the chance to refresh strategies and shed the “nearly-there” tag.
Conditions in India also play into South Africa’s strengths. Mlaba’s spin, coupled with Kapp’s control and the all-rounders’ flexibility, can help South Africa thrive if they adapt quickly. If the younger group of de Klerk, Shangase, and Bosch seize their opportunities, the squad can evolve into more than a two-player batting show, creating a more rounded and resilient unit.
Threats :
When the lights are the brightest, and pressure is the highest, it has been often seen that young players let the magnitude of the occasion overwhelm them. The side of 2025 is a very different team from the one that played the last edition of the World Cup where they finished second on the points table before being beaten by eventual runners-up England.
With veterans like Ismail, Chetty, du Preez, and Lee having stepped aside, a younger core led by Laura Wolvaardt carries the team forward. While their energy and versatility are a huge asset, the sheer scale and intensity of a World Cup could test their composure.
The inconsistency of the 2022–25 ICC Championship cycle looms large: 12 wins, 11 losses, and a fourth-place finish underline a tendency to falter against stronger opposition. Heavy defeats to India and England exposed fragility under pressure, and if such lapses repeat on Indian surfaces, the Proteas could once again fall short in the knockouts.
The challenge of replacing Ismail’s wicket-taking impact is significant. Without breakthroughs at crucial moments, South Africa risks being outmuscled by batting-heavy lineups. India’s flat pitches will test their ability to sustain pressure spells, and the inability to close out partnerships remains a historical weakness.
South Africa Squad for Women’s World Cup 2025:
Laura Wolvaardt (C), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso (WK), Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase
South Africa’s fixtures at Women’s World Cup 2025:
3 October 2025: vs England – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
6 October 2025: vs New Zealand – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
9 October 2025: vs India – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
13 October 2025: vs Bangladesh – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
17 October 2025: vs Sri Lanka – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
21 October 2025: vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
25 October 2025: vs Australia – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore