Big gains for Gardner in ICC Women’s ODI Bowling Rankings

Ashleigh Gardner, an all-rounder for Australia, helped the team win the opening game of their three-ODI series against England in Sydney on Sunday, earning her a career-high second place in the ICC Women’s ODI Bowling Rankings.

Ashleigh Gardner achieved career-high rating points in the batting and all-rounders’ rankings after taking three for 19 and scoring an undefeated 42 to win Player of the Match.

With 604 points, she is still in 15th place among hitters, and with 466 points, she is only eight points behind Marizanne Kapp, the South African player, in second place among all-rounders.

With her two-for-46 haul, seam bowler Kim Garth has also achieved a career-best 10th place in the most recent weekly update, which takes into account performances in the opening game of the Women’s Ashes series in Sydney and the first two games of the ICC Women’s Championship series between India and Ireland.

After hitting 70, Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy moved up four spots to fifth place in the batting rankings, while India’s Jemimah Rodrigues moved up three spots to a career-high 19th place after scoring a century in the second game and helping India take a 2-0 lead.

After scoring 89 and 67 runs, India opener Pratika Rawal moved up 52 spots to 65th in the batting rankings.

England’s Dannie Wyatt-Hodge moved up five spots to 26th, Ireland’s Leah Paul moved up 15 spots to 32nd, India’s Harleen Deol moved up seven spots to 47th, Ireland’s Gaby Lewis moved up four spots to 16th, and England’s Heather Knight moved up five spots to 23rd.

Australia’s Darcie Brown has moved up eight spots to 27th in the bowling rankings, while England’s new-ball bowlers Lauren Bell (up five spots to 17th) and Lauren Filer (up three spots to 49th) are among others who have gained.

Australia has won the ICC Women’s Championship with 39 points from 24 games, while India has 35 points from 23 games after their two victories over Ireland. All countries play eight other teams in three-match series, either at home or away.

New Zealand (21 from 24) and Bangladesh (19 from 21) are vying for the final direct spot from the championship, while England (32 points), South Africa (25), and Sri Lanka (22) are the other teams that have guaranteed direct berths to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India at the conclusion of their matches.