Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the Proteas Women’s contracted squad for the 2025/26 season, with promising all-rounder Annerie Dercksen earning her maiden national contract, replacing Lara Goodall and Delmi Tucker in the 15-player roster.
Led by captain Laura Wolvaardt and head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, the squad is set for a crucial year, with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India being the primary focus. With a strong mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, South Africa aims to build on its recent successes and make a mark on the global stage.
Dercksen’s journey to a national contract has been nothing short of remarkable. Having made her T20I debut in 2023, she became a key figure in the Proteas squad in 2024, making her Test and ODI debuts as well. Her all-round abilities shone across formats, as she accumulated 170 runs and five wickets in 22 T20Is, scored 70 runs and took six wickets in four ODIs, and added 60 runs in two Test matches.
Her standout performances played a crucial role in South Africa’s runner-up finish at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, earning her the ICC Emerging Women’s Player of the Year award. Now, with a full contract, Dercksen is set to play an even bigger role in the team’s journey.
Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Executive for National Teams and High Performance, lauded Dercksen’s performances and welcomed her to the contracted players’ list, “It’s a momentous occasion for Annerie Dercksen, whose performances have been impressive as she cemented her spot in the team, earning a well-deserved first national contract.”
Nkwe emphasized how Dercksen’s inclusion highlights CSA’s commitment to rewarding consistent performances and strengthening the squad, “The continuity in the squad also recognises the team’s outstanding achievement in reaching a second consecutive World Cup final, highlighting CSA’s commitment to rewarding consistent performance and building on the team’s recent success on the global stage.”
With the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 on the horizon, South Africa is preparing for a defining year. The team will soon head to Sri Lanka for a tri-series featuring India, running from April 27 to May 11, before shifting focus to the global event in India later in the year.
Nkwe expressed confidence in the squad’s balance of experience and youth, believing they are well-equipped to compete at the highest level, “As we prepare for a pivotal year with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, this squad offers the right balance of experience and youthful energy. We believe this group is well-equipped to compete at the highest level and continue making the country proud.”
The Proteas Women’s squad boasts a mix of established stars and emerging players. Laura Wolvaardt, the No. 1 ranked batter in the ICC Women’s ODI rankings, continues to lead the team after a phenomenal 2024 season, where she scored 697 runs across formats at an average of 87.12. She was also nominated for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 and finished as the top scorer in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, amassing 232 runs.
Her opening partner, Tazmin Brits, was the second-highest run-getter at the T20 World Cup with 187 runs, forming a formidable duo at the top of the order. Meanwhile, Nonkululeko Mlaba played a key role in South Africa’s journey to the final, picking up 12 wickets with her left-arm spin.
South Africa is eager to build on its runner-up finishes in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and the 2025 Women’s U19 World Cup, where they fell short against New Zealand and India, respectively. The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 presents a golden opportunity for the Proteas to go one step further and claim their first-ever global title.
With the blend of seasoned campaigners like Marizanne Kapp, Suné Luus, and Chloé Tryon, alongside rising stars like Annerie Dercksen and Eliz-Mari Marx, the squad is shaping up to be one of the strongest South Africa has fielded in recent years.
Proteas Women’s Contracted Players for 2025/26:
Laura Wolvaardt (C), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon
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