Wolvaardt and Ismail in the top 10 in women's T20 rankings
England's Sophie Ecclestone becomes the second bowler ever to break the 800 rating points mark
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Feb-2023
Laura Wolvaardt finished the Women's T20 World Cup with 230 runs in six matches • AFP/Getty Images
South Africa's on-field gains during a sensational and emotional Women's T20 World Cup campaign have been supplemented by those from off the field as well with two of their key players rising to significant positions in the ICC rankings. Laura Wolvaardt, who finished the tournament as its highest run-getter, is now at No. 6 among the batters while Shabnim Ismail, who produced the spell that turned the semi-final, is up to No. 7 among the bowlers.
This South African women's team became the first from their country to make the final of a cricket World Cup at the senior level. They got there despite starting the competition with a loss and facing must-win situations even before the knockout stages ever began. Rising to that challenge were the same players who have now been recognised with better seeding by the ICC.
Wolvaardt struck half-centuries in the final and in a make-it-or-break-it game against Bangladesh and as a result has moved up eight places. Her opening partner Tazmin Brits, who was named player of the semi-final for a half-century and four catches, is up five places to No. 12. Among the bowlers, Ismail, having been down at No. 11, has broken into the top 10 and her new-ball partner Ayabonga Khaka is hot on her heels, rising from 21st to 14th.
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Australia who won the Women's T20 World Cup for the third time in a row witnessed gains among their own players as well. Ashleigh Gardner, already the top-ranked allrounder, consolidated her position by scoring 110 runs and grabbing 10 wickets in the tournament. Also, with seven wickets at an economy rate of 5, Darcie Brown moved up five spots to No. 3 on the bowlers' rankings.
England's Sophie Ecclestone remains No. 1 and having had a good tournament herself - 11 wickets in five matches - she is now just the second person in history to go past 800 rating points in the Women's T20I bowlers' rankings. Australia fast bowler Megan Schutt peaked at 805 in 2019 and is the only other woman to reach that barrier. Ecclestone is currently on 801 rating points.
These ranking updates came on the same day it was confirmed that Australia, South Africa, England, India, New Zealand and West Indies have earned automatic qualification to the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.