England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt has claimed the top spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for batters for the first time in her career. This achievement comes after Sciver-Brunt’s outstanding performance in the final ODI of the ICC Women’s Championship series against Australia.
Sciver-Brunt’s match-winning century, with a score of 129, propelled her ahead of Australia’s Beth Mooney in the rankings. She had previously scored an unbeaten 111 in the preceding match. With this stellar performance, Sciver-Brunt has also extended her lead as the top-ranked all-rounder.
Joining Sciver-Brunt in the rankings is Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner. Gardner has moved up two places to a career-best third position in the all-rounders’ list. She has also achieved career-best rankings in both batting and bowling. Gardner’s notable performance in Taunton, where she scored 41 runs and took three wickets for 39 runs, contributed to her rise in the rankings.
The recently concluded series between England and Australia also saw other players make significant advancements in the rankings. Danni Wyatt of England has climbed three places to reach the 18th position among batters, while Australia’s Tahlia McGrath has moved up two places to secure the 32nd spot.
In the bowling department, England off-spinner Charlie Dean has risen by two places to claim the 13th position. These advancements highlight the impressive performances delivered by these players throughout the series.
Taking into account performances from the drawn ICC Women’s Championship series between Bangladesh and India, two players from Bangladesh have also achieved new highs in the rankings. Fargana Hoque has secured the highest-ever rating points by a Bangladesh woman batter with 565 points. Scoring 107 runs in the tied final ODI in Mirpur, Hoque has become the first player from Bangladesh to break into the top 20, attaining the 19th position. Previously, Rumana Ahmed held the record with a 25th position in February 2017.
Nahida Akter, a left-arm spinner from Bangladesh, also experienced a significant rise in the rankings. Her impressive figures of three for 37 in the final ODI have propelled her to the 19th position among bowlers. This achievement surpasses the previous record set by Salma Khatun at the 20th position in December 2022.
Indian players have also showcased their skills in the series. Harleen Deol, who was named the player of the match in the final ODI, has climbed an impressive 32 places to secure the 51st position. Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored a match-winning 86 in the second ODI, has jumped 41 places to claim the 55th spot. Additionally, Deepti Sharma has secured a position in the top 10 among bowlers, while Sneh Rana has moved up three places to claim the 38th spot.
These rankings reflect the exceptional performances witnessed in recent matches and highlight the talent and dedication of these players. As the rankings continue to evolve, fans can expect more thrilling cricket encounters and outstanding individual performances in the future.
