Credit: X
The Australian dominance in Women’s ODI cricket is reflected in the team with five players featuring in it including rookie Phoebe Litchfield. Not having played an ODI before 2023, the 20-year-old opener made a huge impact in her first 13 matches, scoring 485 runs at an average of 53.88 and a strike rate of 81.92. She is a strong contender for the ICC Emerging Women’s Player of the Year award.
Ellyse Perry and wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney make the team after scoring over 400 runs each during the calendar year while Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland make it on the strength of performances with both bat and ball.
Left-handed opener Chamari Athapaththu, for long the batting mainstay for Sri Lanka, has been named captain of the side after scoring 415 runs in just eight matches at an average of 69.16 and a strike rate of 125.37. Nat Sciver Brunt’s batting average of 131 in six matches earns her the number six slot.
New Zealand are the only other side apart from Australia to have more than one player in the Women’s ODI team as all-rounder Amelia Kerr and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu have both made it. All-rounder Nadine de Klerk of South Africa and Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Nahida Akter complete the team.
NOTE: The ICC Awards 2023 announcements will continue on Wednesday and Thursday when 13 individual award winners will be declared.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year:
- Phoebe Litchfield (Aus)
- Chamari Athapaththu (Capt, SL)
- Ellyse Perry (Aus)
- Amelia Kerr (NZ)
- Beth Mooney (WK, Aus)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (Eng)
- Ash Gardner (Aus)
- Annabel Sutherland (Aus)
- Nadine de Klerk (SA)
- Lea Tahuhu (NZ)
- Nahida Akter (Ban)
(With Inputs From Press Release)
