South African Laura Wolvaardt will call the Adelaide Strikers home for the fourth consecutive season, after becoming the Strikers first pick in the inaugural WBBL draft.
Wolvaardt was taken with pick 12, with the Strikers using their retention pick on her after the Melbourne Stars called her name out in the second round as a platinum pick.
The Strikers passed on their opening round selection.
Since joining the Strikers ahead of WBBL|06, Wolvaardt has been a key member of the side, regularly contributing as a top-four batter.
In 47 matches for the Strikers, Wolvaardt has made 1,131 runs, including five half-centuries.
The player affectionately known by teammates and fans as ‘Wolfie’ made a crucial 75* in the match versus the Thunder that secured Strikers their place in the WBBL|08 Finals series.
Her highest score so far in WBBL, she hit 12 boundaries during the vital knock.
Wolvaardt has also taken 12 catches for the Strikers in the outfield – most importantly, the catch that sealed the WBBL|08 victory in the Final against the Sixers at North Sydney Oval.
An incredibly multi-skilled person, Wolvaardt was spending her plane trips around the country studying for her medicine degree and post Championship win, a song she recorded as a teenager came through the portable speakers and she sung her song with teammates whilst sitting by the pitch and celebrating victory.
Amongst her study and singing, Wolvaardt travels the world playing in Twenty20 competitions, including the Women’s Indian Premier League and The Hundred.
She also was the highest run scorer of the T20 World Cup this year, making 230 runs to lead South Africa into the Final.
The Strikers can select up to another two draftees in the inaugural WBBL draft to play alongside Wolvaardt and her teammates.
Wolvaardt was the Strikers first choice, thanks to People’s Choice.