Australian Skipper Meg Lanning has moved back to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after her knock of 74 against Ireland in a tri-series in Bready that also features Pakistan.
Lanning has overtaken compatriot Beth Mooney to reclaim the position she first occupied in January 2014. Except for two days in March 2014, she remained at the top until 18 November 2016. However, this is the first time Lanning has been No. 1 since then, said a press release.
Lanning has been at the top for a total of 1,020 days, only behind England’s Charlotte Edwards (1,092) and Australia’s Karen Rolton (1,085) in terms of days as No.1.
Tahlia McGrath, whose knock of 70 in the same game won her the Player of the Match award, is up 15 places to 13th while Rachael Haynes has advanced two places to 51st position. The Australia players to move up the rankings for bowlers include spinner Jess Jonassen (up four places to sixth) and medium-fast bowler Nicola Carey (up 20 places to 32nd).
Ireland players Rebecca Stokell (up from 87th to 82nd in the batters’ list) and Ava Canning (up from 85th to 71st in the bowlers’ list) are also among those to gain in the latest weekly update that includes the three matches of the England versus South Africa series played just a week ahead of 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. —APP
