January 20
Mithali And Jhulan In ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year
Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami on Thursday were named in ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year for 2021.
The ICC Team of the Year, led by England’s Heather Knight, recognizes the achievements of some exceptional players in women’s cricket who impressed one and all with their on-field exploits in a calendar year.
Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
With 632 runs, Lizelle Lee finished as the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs in 2021. The South Africa wicketkeeper-batter played only 11 matches in the calendar year and recorded an outstanding batting average of 90.28, with one century and five half-centuries. She got her side off to rapid starts, which is summed up by her strike-rate of 79.00 – the third-highest among batters with a minimum of 300 runs in the calendar year.
Also Read: Rohit, Pant & Ashwin In ICC Men’s Test Team of Year 2021
Alyssa Healy (wk) (Australia)
Alyssa Healy, one of the best batters of all time in Women’s cricket, had a great year once again as she accumulated 267 runs in just six ODIs in 2021, at an excellent average of 44.50. She scored two fifties, including a best of 77 which came against India at home in September.
Tammy Beaumont (England)
The England opener had one of the best years of her career as she amassed 503 runs at an average of 62.87, and thus finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the format in 2021. Beaumont scored one century and four fifties, thus playing a crucial role in England’s success as a team.
Mithali Raj (India)
Mithali Raj, the veteran India batter and captain, amassed the same number of runs as Beaumont and at exactly the same average. But her runs came when the Indian team struggled as a unit, thus making her contribution even more important. She didn’t score any century this year but made a total of six half-centuries.
Heather Knight (c) (England)
The England Women’s captain has been a vital cog of their middle-order for a number of years now and she was one of the top performers in that role once again in 2021. Knight accumulated a total of 423 runs this year, at an average of 42.30, including one century and three fifties. She also played a key role with the ball, chipping in with five wickets at an average of 19.80.
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
The South African all-rounder has been one of the best performers with both bat and ball in 2021. Kapp has played the role of an attacking middle-order batter brilliantly, scoring her runs at an outstanding strike-rate of 98.91. She amassed a total of 183 runs in 2021 at an average of 61, including a best of 68* which came against Pakistan in Durban in the month of January. The 32-year-old played an equally important role with her bowling, picking up 11 wickets at an average of 29.18.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
Hayley Matthews was probably the best among the all-rounders in 2021. The West Indies all-rounder accumulated a total of 380 runs in the year, including one century and a fifty. She made an equal impact with her bowling as well, picking up 18 wickets at an outstanding average of 22.44.
Fatima Sana (Pakistan)
The Pakistani all-rounder finished the year as the joint-highest wicket-taker, with 20 wickets to her name in just 13 matches. Even though her economy of 5.61 was a bit on the higher side, Sana picked up her wickets at an excellent strike-rate of 26.6. She did well as a lower-order batter too, amassing a total of 132 runs at an average of 14.66.
Jhulan Goswami (India)
The 39-year-old Indian pacer is still proving herself to be a force to reckon with. Goswami claimed a total of 15 wickets in 2021 and maintained an excellent economy rate of 3.77 as well. An experienced bowler who can keep runs in check, and pick up wickets at the same time, is an asset for any side.
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)
With 18 wickets, Shabnim Ismail finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in 2021. A reliable pacer both with the new-ball and at the death, Ismail was a consistent performer for South Africa throughout the course of the 12 matches she played – going at an economy of only 4.11 runs per over.
Anisa Mohammed (West Indies)
The Caribbean off-spinner bamboozled almost every batter that faced her way in 2021. Mohammed finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets to her name at an outstanding average of 18.00. She was one of the most economical bowlers in the year once again, conceding only 3.61 runs per over.
