Laura Wolvaardt Reclaims No. 1 Spot in ICC ODI Rankings
South Africa Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt has returned to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Rankings after her stellar performances against England in the ICC Women’s Championship series. She had previously claimed the top spot during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 but saw a decline in rankings over the years. Now, her recent form has brought her back to the summit.
Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 59 and 35 in the first two matches of the series, helping South Africa secure a win in the opening game, though they fell short in the second. These performances earned her enough points to overtake England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, who struggled in the series with scores of 0 and 20.
Chloe Tryon and Australian Players on the Rise
South African batter Chloe Tryon also made notable gains, climbing eight spots to 17th in the ODI batting rankings after her solid 45-run knock in the second match.
Australian players saw significant jumps following their series against India. Ellyse Perry, after a magnificent century in the second ODI, rose two spots to fourth among ODI batters. Phoebe Litchfield climbed 13 spots to 25th, while Tahlia McGrath moved up five places to 32nd.
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Bowlers Make Their Mark
In the ICC ODI bowling rankings, Australia’s Kim Garth moved up seven spots to 16th, and Annabel Sutherland made a massive leap of 23 places to 24th. South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp also advanced, moving up three spots to claim sixth overall after taking four wickets in her two games against England.