With the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 set to begin in the UAE on Thursday, cricketers from around the globe are not only aiming for team glory but also vying for top spots in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings. As 10 nations compete for the coveted championship, individual players like West Indies’ Hayley Matthews, Australia’s Beth Mooney, and India’s Smriti Mandhana will also focus on climbing the ranks in batting, bowling, and all-rounder categories during the high-stakes tournament, which will culminate in the final on October 20.
Intense Battle for the Top Spot in Batting Rankings
As the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, the competition for the top spot in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings has intensified. With West Indies‘ Hayley Matthews aiming to become the first non-Australian to lead the rankings in three years, she faces tough competition from Australia’s Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath. Mooney, who currently holds the No.1 position with 757 points, recently demonstrated her prowess with a 30-ball half-century in a warm-up match against England.
Just a few points behind, India’s Smriti Mandhana and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt are also within striking distance. Mandhana’s 743 points and Wolvaardt’s 735 keep them close to the summit. With so little separating the top five, one stellar performance in the tournament could completely reshape the rankings and crown a new leader in women’s T20I cricket.
Spinners Dominate the Bowling Rankings
In the bowling department, spinners have taken center stage, with England’s Sophie Ecclestone leading the charge at 757 points. However, the competition is fierce, with India’s Deepti Sharma just two points behind, and Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal and England’s Sarah Glenn rounding out the top four. Notably, 13 of the top 15 bowlers are spinners, highlighting the growing importance of spin in the T20 format.
Pacers have a smaller but crucial presence in the rankings, with India’s Renuka Singh Thakur holding fifth place with 722 points. Meanwhile, England’s Lauren Bell, ranked 11th, represents one of the few seamers who can challenge the spinners’ dominance. The World Cup could further shuffle these standings as bowlers from various nations look to make their mark on the global stage.
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