
Courtesy: BCCI
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday, January 24, commenced announcements as part of the ICC Awards 2024 by revealing the first three ICC Teams of the Year - The ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year, and the ICC Men’s and Women’s ODI Teams of the Year. On the first of five days of announcements, the standout XIs in both formats were revealed, selected by an independent panel of prominent cricket media – the ICC Voting Academy – on the basis of statistics and overall achievements in international cricket during the calendar year.
South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt captains top women's players including Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt leads the line for the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year and does so as opener following another momentous year with the bat, where she ended the year as the second highest runscorer in the format with 697 at an average of 87.12, which included a national record 184 not out against Sri Lanka in April.
Wolvaardt’s run tally is only bettered by her opening partner, India’s Smriti Mandhana, who flourished with 747 runs and four centuries in the calendar year against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
A supreme middle-order first features Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, whose unbeaten 195 in an epic chase against South Africa headlined her year in the 50-over game. Fellow all-rounder, the West Indies’ Hayley Matthews also adds plenty of firepower to the lineup, having struck 469 runs at an average of 78.16 and like Athapaththu, taking nine wickets during 2024.
South Africa’s fearsome all-rounder Marizanne Kapp earns a spot after 449 runs and 11 wickets during the year, with Australian duo Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland offering more batting and bowling options. Gardner sits at the summit of the Women’s ODI All-Rounder Rankings after 269 runs and 20 wickets during the year, while Sutherland capped a fine year with Player of the Series accolades against India and New Zealand in December.
England’s Amy Jones takes the gloves, and enjoyed an explosive year with 382 runs at an eye-catching strike rate of 107.60.
The lineup is completed by India’s Deepti Sharma – 2024’s top wicket-taker (24), number one ranked bowler Sophie Ecclestone of England, who claimed 21 wickets at 12.71, and her compatriot Kate Cross – the seamer amassing 19 wickets at an average of 18.00, which featured the best bowling figures in the year, six for 30 against Ireland in September.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year:
1. Smriti Mandhana (Ind)
2. Laura Wolvaardt (SA) (c)
3. Chamari Athapaththu (SL)
4. Hayley Matthews (WI)
5. Marizanne Kapp (SA)
6. Ash Gardner (Aus)
7. Annabel Sutherland (Aus)
8. Amy Jones (Eng) (wk)
9. Deepti Sharma (Ind)
10. Sophie Ecclestone (Eng)
11. Kate Cross (Eng)
(With Inputs from Press Release)