Colombo – Sri Lanka, Sept 24, 2012: England’s Sarah Taylor and Lisa Sthalekar of Australia were revealed as the number-one ranked batter and bowler, respectively in the Reliance ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings which were launched in Colombo today (Monday). The launching ceremony took place just two days before the start of ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 in Galle on 26 September.
Taylor, who won the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award at the LG ICC Awards in Colombo on 15 September, leads the batting table with 691 ratings points. England captain Charlotte Edwards is in second spot in the batting table and trails Taylor by just nine ratings points at 682.
Commenting on the launch of the rankings, 23-year-old Taylor said: “It’s great to hear the ICC is introducing the Reliance ICC T20I Player Rankings for women. It’s another step forward for the women’s game and illustrates how more T20 cricket is being played.
“I’m delighted to be number-one in the batting rankings and excited that Charlotte Edwards is at number-two. I’ll be looking to continue my form into the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012.”
Edwards was also excited about the launch and praised Taylor’s rise to the top of the table.
“I’m pleased to know that players in the women’s game are being recognised in the T20 format with the introduction of the Reliance ICC T20I Player Rankings for women. The rankings highlight how the women’s game continues to develop across the world with more and more T20 cricket being played.
“It’s great to hear that I feature at number-two in the batting rankings and I’m really pleased for Sarah that she’s made the number-one spot. She is in a great form at the moment and thoroughly deserves that accolade,” said Edwards, who won the ICC Women’s Player of the Year Award at the LG ICC Awards in 2008.
The top 20 list includes five batters each from Australia and England, three from West Indies and two each from India and New Zealand. In the bowlers’ category, Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar leads the field with 666 ratings points, followed by Jhulan Goswami of India in second spot with 653 ratings points. The bowlers’ table features five players from Australia and seven from England.
Sthalekar has picked 56 wickets in 46 T20Is with a best of four for 18. Only Anisa Mohammed of West Indies has picked more wickets (62 in 43 T20Is). Sthalekar also leads the all-rounders’ category with 356 ratings points thanks to 604 runs in addition to those 56 wickets. West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor is in the second place with 353 points.
Sthalekar said: “I am really surprised by this announcement but it’s a nice bonus and great to be recognised for my performances of late. I initially thought T20I was very fast and I didn’t quite understand the game but I have found that it is a great vehicle to promote women’s cricket.
“T20I has really come to the forefront of women’s cricket and to have the ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Year Award and now the Reliance ICC Player Rankings is just fantastic. It has really given women’s cricketers another opportunity to be recognised on the world stage and only adds to the growing popularity of the game for women.”
Australia captain Jodie Fields showered praise on her key all-rounder.
“It is fantastic to have Lisa be recognised in this way and it is great for Australian women’s cricket to have one of our senior players leading the way in this format of the game.
“T20I is great for the promotion of women’s cricket and this tournament proves it is advancing the game as we are seeing a lot of nations becoming very competitive. To have these rankings in place really cements T20 as a strong format for women’s cricket and gives players something to aspire to which can only be good for the game,” said Fields.
Mr. Sanjay Behl – Group Head – Brand & Marketing, Reliance said: “Nearly a year after the Reliance ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings were launched, it is an exciting time for us to be announcing the launch of the Reliance ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings. It is an important addition to the rankings bouquet that Reliance has so proudly supported for the past few years. Some of world’s best women’s cricketers will now have a great opportunity to battle for top spots on the table.”
Campbell Jamieson, the ICC’s General Manager – Commercial, said: “The quantum and quality of women’s T20I cricket meant that this was the right time to launch the Reliance ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings. The launch takes place just two days before the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 which means it will give an additional context to the tournament.” —- ICC/Image © sportstraffic.blogspot.com & zambio.com
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