The ICC Awards 2022 season is here and for the category of the ‘ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer’ Award, we have quite a distinguished list of players as nominees. Let’s uncover their journeys this year!
Alyssa Healy
Alyssa Healy has had a rollercoaster ride in 2022 scoring a total of 629 runs, taking eight catches and four stumpings yet she is a nominee for the Award owing to her brilliant performances and she has made a point for herself. Be it the tough start she had in the ODI World Cup to scoring that 72 versus Pakistan to again riding the low and scoring another 72 versus India, she has come a long way. This year would be memorable and etched in her memory solely for her centuries in the semi-finals and in the finals of the World Cup scoring that career-best 170. Accumulating 509 runs and scoring at an average of 56, she really set the tone for the rest of the year briefly leading the Australian team admirably for the series versus India before an injury ruled her out.
Shabnim Ismail
The leading ODI wicket-taker this year is Shabnim Ismail with a tally of 37 wickets from 17 matches and the South African veteran never fails to deliver. She kickstarted the year with four-wicket hauls in the series versus West Indies and carried on the momentum to the ODI World Cup scalping 14 wickets at an average of 17.5 and singlehandedly managed the bowling department en route to the semi-finals. Even in the bilateral series that followed, she was consistent also registering her second five-wicket haul of 5 for 8 versus Ireland and she has been the backbone of the South African attack.
Nat Sciver
Nat Sciver quite deservingly makes the list as she not only amazed everyone with her all-round prowess but she has also displayed remarkable grit, tenacity and character this year. Having scored 833 runs and picked 11 wickets from 17 matches, she will fondly remember 2022 as a golden yet reflective year. We got to witness her peak at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup where she amassed 436 runs at an average of almost 70 and even though she took a break from cricket, she returned to help England win the series comfortably versus West Indies where she again finished as the leading run scorer and an impressive average. Her 148* versus Australia in the finals of the World Cup was an unforgettable yet brilliant knock witnessed and it will certainly go down in history as a fine batting performance.
Amelia Kerr
In the league of supreme all-rounders already at the tender age of 22 is Amelia Kerr. She was in sublime form this year notching 676 runs and picking 17 wickets from 18 matches. What stood out was how she was able to find consistency and deliver whenever the New Zealand team needed her most. The highlight of the year for her was scoring three memorable half-centuries and that fantastic century in the 2nd ODI versus India in the series before the ODI World Cup and although the White Ferns crashed out of their home World Cup, she impressed with her 204 runs and 9 wickets. She was able to carry forward good form through the year and even in the series versus West Indies and Bangladesh, she shone thereby solidifying her position as a quality all-rounder.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.