Mithali, Brunt top-ranked in Women’s World Cup

Mumbai, Jan 30 (IANS) India’s Mithali Raj and England’s Katherine Brunt enter the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup 2013 as top-ranked batter and bowler.

West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor has consolidated her lead as top all-rounder.

Mithali, who is appearing in her fourth successive World Cup and is also the India captain, will lead her side in the tournament opener at the Brabourne Stadium against the West Indies in a Group A match Thursday.

Other teams in Group A are 2009 champion England and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to be held from Jan 31 to Feb 17 in Mumbai and Cuttack.

Mithali currently tops the batting table with 767 ratings points. Stafanie is ranked second, 22 ratings points behind.

The England duo of Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway are third and fourth, respectively, while New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite in fifth spot completes the top five.

The fight for the top slot in the ICC Women’s Player Rankings for ODI bowlers is even more interesting.

Katherine heads the bowlers’ table with 777 ratings points. But Brunt will face a tough challenge from Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar, who is currently second with 764 ratings points.

India’s Jhulan Goswami at third, Ellyse Perry of Australia in fourth and England’s Laura Marsh in fifth are the other bowlers within the top 10 who are likely to make improvements.

Stafanie is the clear leader in the ICC Women’s Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders with 453 ratings points, followed by Lisa in second place and New Zealand’s Nicola Browne in third spot.

IANS 2013-01-30 19:24:01