The annual update to the ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings has reaffirmed Australia’s supremacy at the top of international women’s cricket, though rivals England and India have steadily closed the gap. Announced on Wednesday, the latest recalibration reflects performances across two highly competitive years, culminating in a reshuffled, albeit largely familiar, pecking order among the world’s top teams.
Australia is still the team to beat
The reigning seven-time ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions remain firmly ensconced at number one, boasting an imposing 167 rating points. While this represents a marginal reduction in their lead, down to 40 points from 44, the Aussies’ advantage remains formidable, underscoring their consistent dominance in the 50-over format. The likes of Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry continue to set lofty standards for their peers.
England and India narrow the margin
Both England and India have made significant strides in the rankings. England, which stayed in second position with 127 points, has chipped away at Australia’s lead, while India’s 121 points (up by eight) have brought them to just six points shy of England.
The Indian side, buoyed by strong performances from Indian stars, has narrowed the deficit from 11 points, keeping the race for the top spots alive. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side was recently crowned as the champions of the Tri-Nation Series in Sri Lanka, involving India and South Africa. India defeated Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the final of the Tri-Series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Top 6 remains unchanged, but shifts below
The rankings update also leaves the top six unchanged: New Zealand (96 points), at number four, South Africa (90 points), at number five, and Sri Lanka (82 points), at number six. South Africa, despite their inspiring run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup, see those achievements drop out of the current cycle, resulting in a nine-point loss but retaining their fifth position.
West Indies slide down; Bangladesh and Pakistan climb up
The most notable shift comes further down the table. West Indies, semi-finalists at the 2022 ODI World Cup, have suffered the most from the recalibration, losing 10 rating points and slipping from seventh to ninth with 72 points. Bangladesh (79) and Pakistan (78) climb to seventh and eighth, respectively, capitalising on the West Indies’ slide.
How the Rankings are Calculated
This year’s update, as per ICC policy, assigns a 50% weighting to matches played between May 2022 and April 2024, and full weight to games thereafter. This method places greater emphasis on more recent results, ensuring the rankings reflect current form.
An additional update sees the USA drop off the table after losing their ODI status, leaving 15 teams in the official ICC women’s ODI rankings.
While Australia’s reign continues, the rankings update highlights the growing competitiveness in women’s cricket, with England and India hot on their heels. The next 12 months will be crucial as teams vie to close the gap before the next cycle, promising fans even more high-quality cricket and intense rivalries.
