In the most recent update issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, India’s Smriti Mandhana has taken back the top spot in the women’s ODI batting rankings for the first time since November 2019.
After South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt dropped to joint-second place with England’s new skipper Nat Siver-Brunt after innings of 27 and 28 in the opening two ODIs against the West Indies, the 28-year-old moved up one spot to reclaim the top spot.
Wolvaardt’s more than six-month reign at the top has come to an end, and Mandhana now sits comfortably with 727 rating points. In the conclusion of India’s recent tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in Colombo, the star batswoman, who has been in outstanding form lately, hit her 11th career century.
With a half-century in the opening game of the three-match series, Wolvaardt’s teammate Tazmin Brits moved up five spots to 27th place. The series is currently tied after South Africa overcame a four-wicket loss to defeat the hosts by 40 runs in the second game played over the weekend in Barbados.
On the ODI batting charts, West Indies duo Shemaine Campbelle (up seven spots to 62nd) and Qiana Joseph (up 12 spots to equal 67th) also saw increases.
In other changes, Sune Luus, the former captain of the Proteas, moved up seven spots to 42nd in the bowlers’ list and seven spots to 42nd in the batters’ list after hitting 76 in the second game. Qiana Joseph, the opener for the West Indies, jumped 12 spots to share 67th place after her 60-run innings in their opening game.
In the bowlers’ list, Afy Fletcher, a spinner for the West Indies, achieved the biggest advances. She moved up four ranks to 19th overall on the list of ODI bowlers, which is still led by England’s Sophie Ecclestone, after taking four wickets in the West Indies’ most recent match against South Africa.