Australia Women make big gains in the ICC Women's ODI Rankings

Australia stars sizzle in the latest weekly update of the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings. Last week, Australia’s Alyssa Healy scored a blazing 65 against New Zealand Women in their record winning game that advanced her to a career-best of 753 points in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings and equaled her career-best of third place, set in October 2019. In the same game, her compatriot, all-rounder Ellyse Perry moved back above the 700-point barrier with her innings of 56 not out.

Ashleigh Gardner’s unbeaten 53 from just 41 balls also took her into the world’s top 30 in the ICC ODI Women’s batter’s rankings for the first time. In the bowler’s category for ODI, Megan Schutt’s 4-32 enabled her to move above Marizanne Kapp into second place. Tasmanian, Nicola Carey who took 3-34 move to a career-best 37th place in the ODI Women’s bowler rankings.

From New Zealand, Lauren Down’s previous highest ODI score was just 15, but her innings of 90 for New Zealand lifted her up 55 places to rank 62.

Australia Women draw first blood in the ODI series

The Australian Women comfortably won the first ODI with 6 wickets to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The likes of Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, and Ashleigh Gardner scored timely half-centuries to allow the visitors to make light work of the target of 213 set by the New Zealand Women.

On the bowling front, it was Megan Schutt who sliced through the Black Caps’ batting lineup. The right-arm pacer took 4 wickets in the 9 overs that she bowled and also gave away just 32 runs to continuously put the brakes on the Kiwi scoring rate. Apart from Schutt, Nicola Carey also took 3 wickets to restrict the Kiwi Women to a total of just 212.

The second ODI between the two sides will take place on 7th April 2021 at Mount Maunganui. A win in the second rubber will allow the Meg Lanning-led Australian side to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Here is the list of the Top 10 batters according to the ICC Women’s Player Rankings

Here is the list of the Top 10 bowlers according to the ICC Women’s Player Rankings

Here is the list of the Top 5 all-rounders according to the ICC Women’s Player Rankings