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After a fantastic 2023–24 season, Laura Wolvaardt, the women’s captain of South Africa, took home five awards, including Women’s Player of the Year, at the CSA Annual Awards. In addition to taking on the captaincy permanently during the previous season, Wolvaardt led South Africa in runs scored in both ODIs and T20Is during the time frame in question.
She was awarded the titles of Women’s T20I Player of the Year and Women’s ODI Player of the Year, which seemed fitting. She also won the Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year trophies, demonstrating her popularity among her teammates and fans.
Marco Jansen, who won the Men’s Player of the Year award for his all-around efforts—which included taking 17 wickets in the ODI World Cup and putting on strong performances with both bat and ball in the Boxing Day Test against India—joined her.
Achievements from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024 are recognised by the awards; hence, only results from the West Indies Test and T20I series and the Men’s T20 World Cup in June will be taken into account for the following year’s competitions. The IPL in May makes it impossible for all nationally contracted players to attend the ceremony, which is why the awards are hosted in September rather than in May, the month after the season ends. This is due to CSA’s sponsors.
Selected Test player of the Year was difficult because South Africa played only four Tests during the period under review, two against India and two with a sub-par squad in New Zealand. David Bedingham received recognition for his performances after scoring 56 on his debut against India and 87 and 110 in his two subsequent innings in New Zealand. In addition, Bedingham received the International Newcomer of the Year award.
Following his four centuries at the 2023 World Cup, Quinton de Kock—who has since retired from 50-over cricket—was named the ODI Player of the Year in white-ball formats. In contrast, Reeza Hendricks was named T20I Player of the Year. Hendricks was the only hitter from South Africa to reach 50 runs throughout the time frame that is being examined, excluding the T20 World Cup. Players’ Player of the Year was chosen by his peers for Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner who overcame medical odds to recover from an Achilles rupture three months early and compete in the ODI World Cup.
Two other notable accolades, the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award and the Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC, were taken home by female internationals. In South Africa’s maiden ODI victory over Australia, Marizanne Kapp’s inswinger against Beth Mooney was deemed the greatest ball of the season, while Masabata Klaas was recognised for overcoming adversity to pursue a cricket career. This is the first time a female cricket player has earned the Makhaya Ntini award, which is in its third year and honours players who, like Ntini, have overcome adversity.