Australia’s skipper Meg Lanning reclaimed the top position in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings following her outstanding 74 against Ireland in a tri-series at Bready that also includes Pakistan.
Lanning has surpassed her countrywoman Beth Mooney to recapture the place she previously held in January 2014. She remained at the top until November 18, 2016, with the exception of two days in March 2014. But this is the first time since then that Lanning has held the top spot.
Lanning has occupied the top spot for 1,020 days in total, trailing only Karen Rolton (1,085) and Charlotte Edwards (1,092) in terms of days at the top.
Tahlia McGrath has climbed 15 spots to 13th after scoring 70 in the same game to win Player of the Match.
Spinner Jess Jonassen, who rose four spots to sixth in the rankings for bowlers, medium-fast bowler Nicola Carey climbed up by 20 places to 32nd, and batter Rachael Haynes has reached 51st, are three Australian players who advanced in the rankings.
Ireland Players in the latest ICC Women’s T20 Rankings
The latest weekly update saw Ireland players Rebecca Stokell (up from 87th to 82nd on the batters’ list) and Ava Canning (up from 85th to 71st on the bowlers’ list). While the update also includes the three matches of the England versus South Africa series played just a week before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
For England, fast bowler Katherine Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone have reaped the benefits of finishing with five wickets each in the series. Brunt is up four places to third in the rankings while Ecclestone has consolidated her position at the top, gaining six rating points to reach 767.
Wolvaardt has moved up five spots to take over the 14th spot, while Bosch has advanced 26 spots to take over the 21st spot. Tazmin Brits is now ranked 24th, up 14 spots.
Fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka of South Africa has moved up to position 10 thanks to her four wickets in the series, while Nonkululeko Mlaba has moved up to position 24 after securing three wickets.
