They are joined by three players from runners-up South Africa, with Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt named skipper of the Team of the Tournament. Along with Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk have been included.
Smriti Mandhana (photo: IANS)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday unveiled the Women’s Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament, featuring three Indians — opener Smriti Mandhana, key batter Jemimah Rodrigues, and Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma.
They are joined by three players from runners-up South Africa, with Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt named skipper of the Team of the Tournament. Along with Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk have been included. The rest of the team comprises three Australians — Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King, two English players — Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone, and Pakistan wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz.
Advertisement
Mandhana was selected to open the innings alongside Wolvaardt, the tournament’s top two run-getters. Wolvaardt finished with 571 runs at an average of 71.37, the most by any batter in a single edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, a tally powered by back-to-back hundreds in the semi-final and final.
Advertisement
Mandhana scored a century against New Zealand in the league stage and wrapped up the campaign with 434 runs at an average of 54.25.
At No. 3, Mandhana’s teammate Rodrigues earned her place following a match-winning unbeaten 127 that ended Australia’s unbeaten run and propelled India into the final. Deepti, adjudged Player of the Tournament, was recognised for her all-round brilliance. She finished as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps, including a crucial five-wicket haul in the final, and contributed 215 runs lower down the order, a tally featuring a century and three fifties.
The Proteas have strong representation as well. Kapp retained her place after another dominant all-round campaign, scoring two half-centuries and taking 12 wickets, including 5 for 20 against England in the semi-final, which helped her become the leading wicket-taker in Women’s World Cup history. Nadine de Klerk also enjoyed a breakthrough tournament, smashing an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls to help beat India in the league stage and claiming nine wickets overall.
Australia’s Alana King and Annabel Sutherland were selected for their impact with the ball. King etched her name in the record books with a seven-wicket haul against South Africa in the group stage, while Sutherland finished with 17 wickets, second only to Deepti, and also scored an unbeaten 98 in a 180-run stand with Ashleigh Gardner against England. Gardner, positioned in the middle order, scored her second century of the competition and also took seven wickets.
Sidra Nawaz was the only player picked from a team that did not reach the knockouts. The Pakistan wicketkeeper ended with three catches and four stumpings, including a stunning leg-side catch to dismiss Harmanpreet Kaur, and sharp glovework to stump Kim Garth in the match against Australia.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone completes the XI after taking 16 wickets at an average of 14.25, including four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and South Africa. Her teammate Nat Sciver-Brunt — who produced 262 runs and nine wickets — was named 12th player following a highly impressive first World Cup as captain.
The selection panel comprised Ian Bishop, Mel Jones and Isa Guha, along with Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events and Corporate Communications) and journalist representative Estelle Vasudevan.
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament: Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Ashleigh Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Annabel Sutherland, Nadine de Klerk, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Alana King, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt (12th player)
Advertisement
