Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
Medical student lives out her cricket dream
Author: Jackie Pienaar-Brink
Published: 29/05/2018

The fact that Laura Wolvaardt is currently living out her dream by walking onto the field as an opening bowler of the South African women's cricket team doesn't mean that she has abandoned her other great dream – to qualify as a doctor. 

Laura started studying at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at the University of Stellenbosch at the beginning of the year as a first-year student. 

The busy cricket calendar – and especially the T20 World Cup Tournament in November this year – disrupted everything, however, and she was given permission after a few months to interrupt her studies. She will resume these next year. 

Laura made her debut for the South African senior women's cricket team in 2016 in a one-day tournament against England. And she hasn't looked back since. She is very grateful that the FHMS has given her the opportunity to play professional cricket for a year without having to worry about her studies. 

The decision about where to study came easily. “I attended an Open Day at Tygerberg, and simply fell in love". 

And why medicine, in particular? “As a doctor I feel that one can truly make a difference in someone's life," says the 19-year-old, who also shines in many other areas, but realises only too well that in the long run she would not be able to do justice to both cricket and medicine at the level she would like to do. 

Last year in matric at Parklands College in Milnerton she was head girl, a member of the first hockey team, and academically in the top spot, as she has been throughout her school career. 

“When I started studying at the US, I quickly realised that the medical course was extremely demanding – just as demanding as the schedule of a professional cricketer," she says. “I will never completely stop playing; I love cricket too much to do that. But after I have resumed my medical studies, I will not be part of every single cricket tour." 

At the moment her days look very different to those of a typical medical student. “When I am home, I will go to the gym every day, and attend cricket practice. However, the biggest part of this year I will be touring, which means many team practice sessions and matches." 

Her passion for cricket she ascribes to the boys who her friends during very early childhood. “At the age of five everyone started playing cricket. I trundled along behind them as I didn't want to miss any of the fun, and to my surprise, I started loving the game." 

Laura has quite a few impressive firsts on her list of records, such as being the youngest South African cricketer (of the men ánd women) who have made a century in international cricket (at the age of 17), and she is also the youngest woman in the world who has passed the 1000-run mark in one-day cricket (at the age of 18). But the highlight of her cricketing career was when the South African women's team took part in the World Cup Tournament last year during her Matric year. “We played brave and fearless cricket and it was incredible being part of that. We reached the semi-finals and played for one another." 

She did so well that she was selected to play in the international team. 

Laura has received many accolades, such as when she was named in her matric year as  Women's Newcomer of the Year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards, and at an awards ceremony for women, athletes received the sport award for School Sports Star of the Year. 

She believes that in order to be a good opening batsman, you need to possess both a solid technique and strong mental abilities. "You must be 100% focused. There is no room for errors. I believe it is very similar to when you are a doctor."


 

Caption: Laura Wolvaardt in action on the cricket pitch.

Photo supplied by Cricket South Africa.