The role of a wicket-keeper in women’s cricket has shifted dramatically over the last decade. It used to be that a keeper was there primarily for their hands, but today, they are some of the most feared batters in the world. They aren’t just stopping runs; they’re the ones leading the charge, often doubling as captains or explosive openers who set the tone for the entire match.
Here is a look at the most prolific run-scorers who have donned the gloves in international cricket. These women have balanced the physical grind of squatting for hours with the mental pressure of anchoring an innings, carving out legacies that define the modern game.
1. Alyssa Healy (Australia)
If you look up “clutch” in a cricket dictionary, there’s a good chance you’ll find Alyssa Healy’s face. For years, she was the engine room of the dominant Australian side. What makes her special isn’t just the 6,472 runs, but the way she scored them. Standing at the top of the mountain is Australia’s Alyssa Healy with 275 dismissals as a wicket-keeper to her name. She’s famous for her “big-game temperament”—whenever a World Cup final rolls around, you can bet she’ll be the one clearing the ropes.
Having recently announced her retirement in early 2026, she leaves the game as the gold standard for every aspiring keeper-batter. Healy plays with a philosophy that puts bowlers on the back foot from the first delivery.
Her career highlight is undoubtedly the 170 she smashed against England in the 2022 World Cup Final—the highest score ever in a World Cup final (men or women). Beyond her batting, she is the world record holder for the most T20I dismissals (128). Having retired in March 2026, she ended her career on a high with a blistering 158 against India, proving she remained a nightmare for bowlers until her very last day.
2. Sarah Taylor (England)
If Healy is power, Sarah Taylor was pure art. Before retiring in 2019, Taylor amassed 6,533 international runs where she made the impossible look routine, with hands so fast they seemed like a glitch in the broadcast. Beyond her 232 dismissals, her batting was elegant and clinical. She was the first woman to score over 2,000 runs in T20Is, proving that you could be a classical stroke-player even in the shortest format.
She didn’t just play cricket; she made it look like ballet. Widely considered the most talented pure wicket-keeper to ever play the game, her hands were famously faster than the blink of an eye. She finished with 6,147 runs as a designated wicket-keeper batter, but her legacy is defined by her innovation. She was one of the first players to master the “ramp” and “scoop” shots, using her wrists to manipulate the ball into gaps no one else could see.
Taylor was the heartbeat of England’s 2009 and 2017 World Cup-winning campaigns. Even though she retired early in 2019 due to her well-documented struggle with anxiety, she remains an inspiration for her bravery both on and off the field. In 2025, she was rightfully inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, cementing her status as a true legend of the sport.
3. Amy Jones (England)
Taking over the mantle from a legend like Sarah Taylor is no easy feat, but Amy Jones has made it look seamless. With over 4,100 runs across formats, Jones has become a vital cog in England’s aggressive batting lineup. She’s a versatile player, capable of moving up and down the order depending on the team’s needs. Her recent form in 2025 and early 2026 has been particularly impressive, including a career-best 129 against the West Indies, proving that she is still very much at the peak of her powers.
Taking over from Sarah Taylor was perhaps the hardest job in cricket, but Amy Jones has handled it with incredible grace. Currently, with 231 dismissals and 3,923 runs as a designated wicket-keeper batter, she has become the definition of a “360-degree” player. Unlike the explosive Healy, Jones is a builder; she has a knack for finding boundaries through traditional, elegant strokes and is a master at rotating strike. She currently sits third on the all-time list and is still adding to her tally, making her one of the most active threats in the game today.
4. Trisha Chetty (South Africa)
Trisha Chetty is a name synonymous with resilience. For 16 years, she was the heartbeat of the South African side, finishing her career with over 3,900 combined international runs (2,703 in ODIs alone). While she often played a stabilizing role in the middle order, her partnership records at the top of the order showed she could shift gears when needed.
Playing in 3,871 runs worth of matches, she was a symbol of longevity. While the modern game is all about strike rates, Chetty was a specialist at playing the “long game.” She was the glue that held the Proteas’ batting together, often opening the innings or coming in during a collapse to stabilize things.
Chetty’s keeping was equally legendary—she retired in 2023 holding the record for the most dismissals in Women’s ODIs (184). Her career was a masterclass in perseverance, as she battled through several back injuries that would have ended a lesser player’s career. Chetty retired in 2023 with the record for the most dismissals in Women’s ODIs, a testament to her longevity and consistency in one of the most demanding roles in the sport. She left the game as the most successful keeper South Africa has ever produced.
5. Nigar Sultana Joty (Bangladesh)
The youngest entry on this list, Nigar Sultana Joty, is the trailblazer for Bangladesh cricket. With 2,634 runs and 130 dismissals to her name, she is already her country’s most successful female batter. Joty’s style is built on immense mental strength; she often plays in a side where she is the primary target for the opposition, yet she rarely flinches.
Nigar Sultana is perhaps the most underrated name on this list, but her impact is undeniable. As the captain and primary run-getter for Bangladesh, she has carried the weight of her nation’s batting on her shoulders for years. Having crossed the 3,500-run mark in international cricket, she is a master of the “anchor” role, often digging her team out of trouble. Her ability to rotate strike and find boundaries in high-pressure situations has made her one of the most respected figures in the Asian circuit.
As captain, she led Bangladesh to their first T20 World Cup win in a decade in late 2024. Her keeping is sharp and instinctive, evidenced by her topping the dismissal charts in several recent tournaments. In early 2026, she was instrumental in helping Bangladesh qualify for the upcoming World Cup, proving that she isn’t just a great player, but a leader who elevates everyone around her.