The 2nd day of the 18th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards show on the 24th of January had the ICC reveal the Women’s One-Day International (ODI) Team of the Year. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led, ICC ODI XI has the joint-highest (3) Indians and South Africans make the cut following their stellar outings in 2022.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year 2022
Alyssa Healy (WK) (Australia)
Smriti Mandhana (India)
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
Nat Sciver (England)
Beth Mooney (Australia)
Harmanpreet Kaur (C) (India)
Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
Sophie Ecclestone (England)
Ayabonga Khaka (South Africa)
Renuka Singh (India)
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)
The opening pair of Australia’s Alyssa Healy and India’s Smriti Mandhana is a nightmare to even the best-ranked bowler in the world. Healy in 12 innings went on to accumulate 600 runs at an average of 50.00, a strike rate of 95.38 and produced her best knock of 170 in the World Cup final against England to help Australia claim yet another major trophy. Equally good was Mandhana whose consistency saw her score 696 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 81.21, an average of 49.71, and got to her best at the World Cup, where she against the West Indies notched up a magnificent 123.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year Announced
🇦🇺 Alyssa Healy (wk)
🇮🇳 Smriti Mandhana
🇿🇦 Laura Wolvaardt
🏴 Nat Sciver
🇦🇺 Beth Mooney
🇮🇳 Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
🇳🇿 Amelia Kerr
🏴 Sophie Ecclestone
🇿🇦 Ayabonga Khaka
🇮🇳 Renuka Singh Thakur
🇿🇦 Shabnim Ismail#CricketTwitter #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/ID9RAhW9OO— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 24, 2023
The hard to breach middle-order comprises South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, England’s Nat Sciver, and Australia’s Beth Mooney.
Laura Wolvaardt in 2022, looked in sublime touch in the format having scored 882 runs off 18 innings at an average of 49.00, a strike rate of 78.96, and registered the best of 117. Nat Sciver too had a year to remember as she bagged 12 wickets and accumulated 833 runs in 16 innings at an average of 59.50, a strike rate of 91.43, and her best of 148* from the World Cup final against Australia. Beth Mooney, the fighter in 2022 only featured in 10 ODIs but made the most of those occasions having scored 403 runs at an average of 100.75, a strike rate of 96.41, and had 3 fifties to her name with the best being 73.
Skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur leads the lower-middle order that has New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, and England’s Sophie Ecclestone feature.
Available at India’s rescue often is Harmanpreet Kaur and 2022 was no different where the Indian skipper stepped up scoring 754 runs in 16 innings, at an average of 58.00, a strike rate of 89.76 and notched up a personal best for the year of 143* against England in the historic tour. Amelia Kerr, the dependable one for the White Ferns maintains her tag following her 676 runs off 18 innings and 17 wickets at an economy rate of 4.42 and a strike rate of 53.2. The no.1 ranked, Sophie Ecclestone, chipped in with 198 runs and had yet another dominant patch as she went on to register 34 wickets, at an average of 19.14, a strike rate of 33.0, an economy rate of 3.47 and registered the best figures of 6/36.
The tailender trio is a pace-dominant one that sees India’s Renuka Singh alongside South Africa’s duo of Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail.
Ayabonga Khaka, the consistent one, in 17 innings bagged 27 wickets at an average of 24.37, a strike rate of 31.8, an economy rate of 4.58, and registered the best figures of 5/26. Renuka Singh Thakur had a breakthrough year in 2022 following her 18 wickets off 7 innings at an average of 14.88, a strike rate of 19.3, an economy rate of 4.62, and registered the best figures of 4/28. Shabnim Ismail, the incredible pacer celebrated yet another stunningly good year in 2022 having registered 37 wickets off 16 innings at an average of 14.89, a strike rate of 22.2, an economy rate of 4.02 and got the best figures of 5/8 against Ireland.
Next on the ICC awards, on the 3rd day, the 25th of January, there is the Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year, the Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year, and the Women’s ICC T20I cricketer of the Year awards listed to be announced.