On the 4th and final day of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Awards reveal, England’s vice-captain, Natalie Sciver was crowned as the Women’s One-Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year (2022). For the honorary recognition, Sciver outnumbered the votes of fellow nominees; South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, and Australia’s Alyssa Healy.
English all-rounder, Nat Sciver in the year 2022, didn’t fail to produce the impactful knocks she’s well known for. Her dominance with the bat was reflected in her finishing as England’s highest run-scorer and 2nd to South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt in the overall rankings. Not a lot with the ball but Nat Sciver the all-rounder did well to chip in with crucial breakthroughs.
The 30-year-old all-rounder, in 16 innings piled up 833 runs at an average of 59.50, a strike rate of 91.43, and with 5 half-centuries and a couple of centuries to her name, notched up her career best of 148*. With the ball, in 16 innings (103 overs), Sciver struck 11 scalps at an average of 46.09, an economy rate of 4.92, a strike rate of 56.1, and with a four-fer, got to her career best of 4/59 in the same year.
Natalie Sciver declared Winner of the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2022 🏴 #ICCAwards #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/iEW3NEnIua
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 26, 2023
Nat Sciver got her first runs for the year on the board during the Ashes series which saw her with scores of 45(66) and 46(95) from the 1st and 3rd ODI and only a wicket in the series against Australia. In a quick turnaround, post a rare dull series, Nat Sciver when walked out to bat in the World Cup opener in New Zealand against Australia, notched up her first century (85-ball 107*) for the year in fine style and also was among wickets with a couple to her name.
Sciver again lost touch as she hardly got going in the next couple of games and so was she with the ball having picked only a wicket each in both outings. Sciver gained a little form mid-tournament but only with the bat having registered scores of 45(46), 61(108), 40(17), and 15(17) in the games to follow, and went wicketless for 6 straight innings including the final against eventual champions.
Not with the ball, but with the bat in the final against Australia her form was on show as she lit the Hagley Oval with a blistering 121-ball 148* in an unsuccessful attempt to singlehandedly snatch the win away from Australia’s hands. Bilateral cricket returned, and so did Nat Sciver, the dominant all-rounder.
During the home series against South Africa, Nat Sciver in the opener scored a valuable 36-ball 55, and with the ball got to her career best of 4/59 in the same game. She while went wicketless in the 2nd ODI, her bat continued to do all the talking, this time with a well-converted, 47-ball 63. On return for a break, during the West Indies tour, Sciver notched up a 96-ball 90 in the opener and followed it with a mature 69-ball 85 in the 3rd and final ODI which also saw her bag a couple of wickets.