Another record broken by Beth Mooney but who are the other fastest batters in women’s cricket with 2000 runs?
1. Beth Mooney
Beth Mooney, currently ranked #1 T20I batter in the ICC Rankings has surpassed Stafanie Taylor and has become the fastest to achieve 2000 T20I runs in a mere 67 innings. She has evolved into one of the game’s most consistent batters, with the flexibility to play any position in the order and also serves as a wicketkeeper serving as an asset to any team she features in. Next on the list is Stafanie Taylor who achieved the 2000 run mark in 68 innings. Born in Jamaica, she went on her first cricket tour when she was ten years old. Despite being a superb footballer, she preferred cricket. And having burst onto the international stage as a 17-year-old she was the first player in history, male or female, to hold the number one ODI batting and bowling rankings at the same time. In the 2016 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she even guided the West Indies to a memorable World Cup victory.
2. Mithali Raj
Mithali Raj with 2,000 runs in 70 innings is another crusader. Any adjective will fall short of describing her contributions. Mithali Raj has achieved numerous milestones in her illustrious international career spanning more than two decades. The woman with the most runs in the game, as well as the only Indian captain – male or female – to lead the team to two 50-over World Cup finals. Her technical prowess and ability to anchor an innings at the top of the order in all three forms and she has influenced generations of Indian cricketers. Meg Lanning has also scored 2000 runs in 72 innings. Renowned for her cricket acumen, Lanning was named Australia’s youngest captain in January 2014 at the young age of 21. Lanning is a household figure in women’s cricket thanks to her trademark aggressive manner with the bat and spectacular fielding. She oversaw one of the most successful eras in Australian sport, leading the team to a record unbeaten run in One-Day Internationals and back-to-back T20 World Cup victories and will be itching to make her comeback post her break.
3. Charlotte Edwards
Charlotte Edwards, the English skipper has also scored 2000 runs in 73 innings. During her 20-year international career, 10 of which she was England captain, Charlotte Edwards established herself as one of the most influential personalities of all time. Edwards, who made her debut at the age of 16, was far from out of her depth when she began, smashing 12 centuries in 1997. Despite injuries and disappointments, she always made an effort to contribute and will be remembered for leaving a legacy. Sarah Taylor, next on the list has scored 2000 runs in 74 innings. Throughout the 2010s, Sarah Taylor established the benchmark for wicketkeepers – both male and female – in standing up to stumps, routinely becoming popular thanks to her lightning-fast glovework, with leg-side stumpings swiftly becoming her signature. Taylor was instrumental in some of England Women’s most historic victories, including the World Cup and World T20 double in 2009 and the spectacular home World Cup success in 2017. Sarah Taylor, one of England’s most naturally talented players, broke onto the scene in 2006, and a career cut short by anxiety is the only blot on an otherwise fairytale career.
4. Suzie Bates
Suzie Bates achieved the distinction of 2000 runs in her 78th innings. An immensely talented batting all-rounder who bats in the top order made her international debut against India in 2006 and has been breaking records ever since. One of the most notable features of Bates’ captaincy has been the lack of impact on her batting. Bates, at 5-foot-8 and with an athletic body honed on the basketball court, comes more readily to the attacking style than others. She spent 2015 establishing herself as a power batter in the women’s game and continues to contribute massively. Sophie Devine has also scored 2000 runs from 81 innings. Having progressed from a bowler who batted at No. 11, she evolved into one of the game’s top all-rounders and most destructive batters. During the earlier part of her international career, there were flashes of what she was capable of with the bat, notably in T20Is, which eventually translated to spectacular performances in ODIs as well.
5. Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana next on the list has also scored 2000 runs from 84 innings. The batter was given a practice bat by batting ace Rahul Dravid, which she later used to smash a double ton for her state in a one-day game and that’s how she burst onto the scene. Her 224 from 150 balls made her the first Indian woman to score a double ton in one-day cricket. Ever since her debut, she has improved her game by leaps and bounds and has significantly contributed to Indian cricket reaching new heights. She remains an important cog in the wheel. Harmanpreet Kaur is another pioneer having scored 2000 runs from 88 innings. She represents the new generation of Indian women’s cricketers, a generation that has been at the centre of ad campaigns, endorsements, and central contracts and aggressive cricket. She, too, is a trailblazer. Harmanpreet made her debut in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she was able to stamp her class. Her career trajectory has since surged.
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.