The top 10 best women cricketers in the world include legendary all-rounders and exceptional batswomen and bowlers. From India’s Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami to Australia’s Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning, these players have set remarkable records, leading their teams to numerous titles and making significant contributions to women’s cricket globally.
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1) Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry is considered one of the greatest athletes of her era, excelling in both cricket and football. She made her international debut in both sports at 16 and focused on cricket by 2014. As an all-rounder, her remarkable statistics include over 3300 runs and 150 wickets in WODIs, alongside a Test high score of 213*, solidifying her legacy in women’s cricket.
2) Jhulan Goswami
Former Indian women’s cricket team captain Jhulan Goswami is widely regarded as one of the fastest female bowlers in history and one of the best cricketers of recent times. She was named ICC Women’s Player of the Year in 2011 and ranked as the number one ODI bowler in 2016. Goswami has taken 252 wickets in 201 WODI matches, alongside scoring 1228 runs. Her career-best bowling figure of 6/31 makes her the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs. A true pace bowling legend, Goswami remains one of the finest female cricketers from India.
3) Sarah Jane Taylor
Former English cricketer Sarah Jane Taylor is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s cricketers of all time. Making her debut in 2006, she excelled as a wicketkeeper-batswoman, leaving a lasting impact on the game before retiring early in 2019. Taylor recorded 138 dismissals in 126 WODIs and 74 dismissals in 90 WT20Is. As a batswoman, she scored 2177 runs in WT20Is and 4056 runs in WODIs. Taylor’s remarkable career and contributions have solidified her legacy in women’s cricket, and she is also one of the highest-earning female cricketers today.
4) Katherine Helen Brunt
Katherine Brunt, widely regarded as England’s greatest fast bowler in women’s cricket, holds the fourth spot among the best women cricketers in the world. Known for her exceptional match awareness, control, and aggressive bowling style, she has earned global recognition. Brunt has been named England’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2010. Her career stats include 51 wickets in 14 WTEST matches, 167 wickets in 140 WODIs, and 98 wickets in 96 WT20Is. One of her standout performances came in the 2009 World Cup, where she scored her maiden half-century, further solidifying her place as one of the game’s finest all-rounders.
5) Lisa Caprini Sthalekar
Former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, who began her international career in 2001, is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in women’s cricket history. With her deadly off-spin bowling and impressive right-handed batting, Sthalekar dominated the field for over 12 years. She captained the Australian women’s team and was recognized as the best all-rounder of her time. Notably, she became the first woman in ODI history to score 1000 runs and take 100 wickets, a landmark achievement. One of her career highlights was leading Australia to victory in the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup. Her remarkable record includes 2728 runs and 146 wickets in WODIs, further cementing her legacy as one of the finest players in the history of women’s cricket.
6) Stafanie Taylor
West Indies cricketer Stafanie Roxan Taylor, ranked sixth on the list, is one of the finest all-rounders in women’s cricket history. A right-arm off-break bowler and right-handed batter, Taylor has been a key player and captain for her team. She was named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2011. Her WODI statistics are exceptional, with 5298 runs, including a high score of 171, and 152 wickets in just 145 matches. In WT20Is, she has scored 3121 runs and taken 98 wickets in 111 matches. Taylor’s all-round performance has solidified her place as one of the greatest players in women’s cricket.
7) Mithali Raj
Indian cricketer Mithali Raj is widely regarded as one of the greatest batswomen in cricket history. As a top-order batter for the Indian women’s national team, she played a crucial role in anchoring the innings with grace and consistency. Throughout her illustrious international career from 1999 to 2022, Mithali scored 7805 runs in WODIs, the highest ever in women’s cricket, along with 2364 runs in WT20Is. Her remarkable individual achievements include a Test high score of 214, a WODI best of 125* not out, and 97* in WT20Is. Mithali’s leadership and batting skills have cemented her legacy as one of the finest cricketers and captains in women’s cricket, both in India and globally.
8) Meg Lanning
Meg Lanning, a top-order batswoman for the Australian women’s cricket team, has been a dominant force in international cricket since her debut in 2010. In just a few years, she achieved remarkable success, winning two Women’s Cricket World Cups and four ICC Women’s World T20 titles with her team. Lanning has scored 4463 runs in 100 WODI matches, with a highest score of 152* not out. In WT20Is, she has accumulated 3007 runs with a personal best of 133* not out in 115 matches. Her consistency, leadership, and outstanding performances have established her as one of the best women cricketers in the world today.
9) Shashikala Siriwardene
Sri Lankan cricketer Shashikala Siriwardene, who played from 2003 to 2020, is one of the most accomplished players in women’s cricket. As the former captain of the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team, she led her squad in several World Cup campaigns. Siriwardene’s remarkable career includes over 100 wickets and 1000 runs in WODIs, a record for Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket. She scored 2029 runs and took 124 wickets in WODIs, along with 1097 runs and 77 wickets in WT20Is. Siriwardene’s all-round contributions and leadership have left a lasting impact on Sri Lankan cricket.
10) Sana Mir
Sana Mir, a key player for Pakistan’s women’s cricket team from 2005 to 2019, is one of the most successful bowlers in women’s cricket history. Known for her wicket-taking abilities, she made significant contributions to her team, including becoming the first Pakistani female cricketer to reach 100 wickets in WT20Is. In 2018, she became the first Pakistani woman to top the ICC ODI bowler rankings. Sana Mir also played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s two gold medal victories in the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. Over her WODI career, she claimed 151 wickets and scored 1630 runs, cementing her place as one of the finest all-rounders in women’s cricket.