Published: Jan 22, 2024, 05:43 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 22, 2024, 05:43 PM (IST)
Deepti Sharma, an Indian all-round batsman, was included in the Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday. The only member of the Indian team was Deepti Sharma. The team will be led by Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka. With a stunning ‘Player of the Match’ performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup, when she struck 68 runs from 50 balls to assist the island nation defeat South Africa by three runs, the 33-year-old had an incredible 2023.
Athapaththu hit 15 sixes in 2023 and amassed 470 runs at a strike rate of 130.91 in the Twenty20 format.
Beth Mooney, an Australian wicketkeeper-batter, will be positioned behind the stumps.
Mooney was instrumental in helping Australia win the T20 World Cup and secure the championship. She scored 410 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 120.58 during the ICC event. The Australian got off to a great start in 2023, scoring 46 runs against Pakistan.
With 586 runs at an average of 45, South African batter Laura Wolvaardt finished second in the 2023 T230 World Cup in terms of run scoring. In East London, Wolvaardt began the year with an undefeated 42-run innings against the West Indies. As the Proteas mounted a World Cup push, she continued to be consistent, scoring three straight fifties.
With 700 runs at an average of 63.63 and a strike rate of 132, Caribbean batting all-arounder Hayley Matthews had an incredible year and was the most prolific run scorer in the 20-over format. In 2023, she also grabbed 19 wickets at an economy of 6.84.
In the T20I series, the West Indies captain also gave a great performance against Australia, scoring 99*, 132, and 79 to help her team win handily.
In the T20 format in 2023, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt amassed 364 runs at a strike rate of 136 and an average of 15.50. In 2023, she demonstrated herself to be among the top female cricket players. She hit 40 runs from 34 balls in the T20 World Cup semi-final match against South Africa, which enabled England advance to the tournament’s championship match.
Amelia Kerr, a bowling all-rounder from New Zealand, was one of the top young players in the 20-over format in 2023, amassing 365 runs at the bat and taking 12 wickets with her leg spin.
Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, and Megan Schutt from Australia were also included in the ICC’s best-playing eleven. In 2023, Perry maintained her aggressive approach at bat, scoring 319 runs in 10 innings with a 45.57 average and a 151.18 strike rate.
Over the course of the season, Gardner scored 234 runs at a strike average of 121.24, 110 of which came during the T20 World Cup. However, in the 20-over format, Schutt proved to be too formidable for any batsman, claiming 21 wickets at a pace of 15.57, or just 6.81 runs per over.
With 11 wickets at the end of the T20 World Cup, English spinner Sophie Ecclestone had the most of any player participating. During the 2023 T20 World Cup, Ecclestone performed brilliantly and supported England in numerous ways.
Deepti Sharma was the only India included in the team. The batting-allrounder made 106 runs in the T20Is.
Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023: Chamari Athapaththu (C), Beth Mooney (Wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Megan Schutt.
