The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named the nominees for the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, India’s Smriti Mandhana, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu are the four players who will fight for the title. .
Laura Wolvaardt of the South Africa women’s national cricket team has been a key player in her team’s success in the ODIs. The opening batter played 12 innings in 2024 and scored 697 runs at 87.12 and a strike rate of 87.34, ensuring that she leads from the front.
Laura Wolvaardt and Chamari Athapaththu were stars for their team in ODIs in 2024
Laura Wolvaardt’s best effort with the bat came against the Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team in Potchefstroom in April. She registered a career-best score of 184* and also hit 23 fours and four huge sixes during her innings, in which she bowled 147 balls.
Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team skipper Chamari Athapaththu was at her best with bat and ball even though she played fewer ODIs. The southpaw played 9 matches in 2024 and scored 458 runs with an average and strike rate of 65.42 and 101.10 respectively. Not only that, she also picked 9 wickets.
Her memorable performance came with the bat during the three-match ODI series against the South Africa women’s national cricket team. The batter scored an unbeaten innings of 195 runs and helped her team reach the massive target of 301 runs with over five overs remaining. She also slammed 26 fours and five massive sixes.
Smriti Mandhana is the third nominee for the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award for her exceptional year with the bat.
India women’s national cricket team batter Smriti Mandhana is the third nominee for the ICC ODI women’s cricketer 2024. With the kind of impact she has made in the ODIs this year, it is fair to say that she will be the top contender to win the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award.
Smriti Mandhana played 12 ODIs for India in 2024 and was exceptional with the bat as she scored 743 runs at an average of 61.91 and a strike rate of 96.99. The left-hander also slammed four centuries in the year and was the team’s top performer.
Smriti Mandhana’s memorable performance came in the second match of India’s home series against South Africa. The batter played a sensational innings of 136 off just 120 deliveries, including 18 fours and two sixes. Not only that, she also picked a wicket.
Annabel Sutherland is also among the top candidates to win the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award.
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland is also among the top candidates to win the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award. The young batter was magnificent with the bat as she played 9 matches and also scored 369 runs at an average of over 53, along with a strike rate of around 100.
Not only that, Sutherland has also picked 13 wickets at an average of 17.69 and an economy of 4.19. Her memorable performance came against India in Perth, where she was at her best with both bat and ball. She scored 110 from just 95 deliveries and also picked the wicket of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Also read: PUMA attacks Sanjay Manjrekar for criticizing Nitish Kumar Reddy’s heroics after MCG
