In the last few decades, women cricketers have gained traction, thanks to the great players that have represented them. Not only have these women created a benchmark for their individual achievements, they’ve also made the world see how they can bat and run just as easily as men can. These female cricket players are pioneers in their game, showing off stunning centuries and incredible bowling streaks. They’ve set the stage for women in cricket, inspiring young girls that they, too, can bat on the pitch. With that, you can learn about the five iconic female cricket players of all time below!
Women Cricketers Who Redefined Excellence
Cricket has always been known as a “man’s game” – but the women in England back in 1745 say differently. The first ever cricket match for women happened in Surrey, England. After the match, newspaper reports have even said that the women played “as well as most men”.
But women cricketers had their rise far later on. From 1887 in which the first English ladies’ cricket club, the White Heather Club, was formed to the very first ever Women’s Test match in 1934. Ever since then, these women have been breaking records and making history – surpassing even the records of the best male cricketers out there.
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1) Ellyse Perry – The Ultimate All-Rounder
Ellyse Perry has been the name that shines the brightest when it comes to women cricketers. She is one of the greatest cricketers in history and her career has created a record that no one, in any country, has ever achieved. The feat of Perry alone was mind boggling given that she was the first woman to achieve more than 5,000 runs and take 300 wickets in T20Is.
Her 7 for 22 in ODIs have been one of the finest bowling attacks in the history of the Australian team. She has also won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award several times. Whether it’s a Test double-century, or a match saving spell, Perry has done it all – in style. No wonder sometimes she can be called the greatest female cricketer of all time.
2) Jhulan Goswami – India’s Bowling Powerhouse
Jhulan Goswami is all about speed and accuracy. Being one of the quickest women cricketers of all time, she has taken most wickets in the Women ODIs. Furthermore, she was instrumental in leading India to the final of the World Cup in 2017.
Goswami is known to have a fierce bounce and seam movement; in fact, bowls just like her male counterparts. Such is her iconic ball to send another incredible female cricketer, Meg Lanning home in the 2017 semi-final. This even had people drawing comparisons to Shane Warne and his “Ball of the Century.”
She still serves as an example for women in cricket, even though she acquired numerous injuries during her career. Now, she coaches young talent in Bengal and at the Women’s Premier League.
3) Meg Lanning – The Captain Marvel
Hardly any of the female players in the cricket world have led with masterly presence and tactical brilliance quite like Meg Lanning of Australia. She became the captain at the young age of 21 and won four T20 World Cups and one ODI World Cup; basically presided over a golden period of cricket dominance.
Lanning has the highest number of centuries in Women’s ODI and was the first Australian woman to score 2,000 runs in T20I. But it is her ability to lead against pressure, in establishing a record chase for example, or protecting a low total, which is where she excels.
She retired when she was 31, but her influence on women cricketers still exists. Her skills in raising the bar in team play coupled with her confidence levels were second to none. Plus, her cut shot was one of the most dreaded shots in the game.
Even today, 12BET Cricket still follows her T20 league appearances across the globe. So you can read about her and other female cricket (and non-cricket!) players there.
4) Alyssa Healy – The Big-Match Gamechanger
Alyssa Healy is such a name that would complete any list of contemporary female cricket players. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter has been accustomed to coming up clutch in her matches. Her 170 in the 2022 ODI World Cup final was considered by most people as one of the best innings ever played by women cricketers.
Healy has a more impressive tally of ODIs runs (more than 3,000), and holds the record of catches in T20Is. In fact, she is as much in form with the bat as she is behind the wicket. She has assisted Australia in winning six T20 World Cups and two ODI titles. Of course, she’s topped the scoreboard in both cricket formats.
Healy is the current Australia all-format captain who still amazes the fans and terrifies the competition. Battling to score an incredible target or batting first in an innings, she is a really fun female cricket player to watch.
5) Nat Sciver-Brunt – England’s Quiet Storm
She might not have the tendency of being in the limelight. But consistency and resilience has earned Nat Sciver-Brunt the title of being one of the most valuable women cricketers. Nat is influential not only by stats, but also her composed demeanor and big-time plays at the helm.
In fact, Nat scored twin unbeaten centuries against Australia in the 2022 Women’s World Cup. Yes, that also includes her match in the finals. She was also a star player in the 2023 Ashes and the highest scorer in the Women’s Hundred and the inaugural WPL season.
However, in 2022, Sciver-Brunt took a mental health break. This act paved the way to discussing mental health for players in cricket, whether they were men or women. She returned recently firing on all cylinders and scored an unbeaten ton against Pakistan and took wickets.
Final Thoughts
These five women cricketers have not only shown, over and over again, that records are there to be broken. But the barriers? Even more so. Their incredible performances in all formats to date remain a source of inspiration to the new generation of talent. Not only in Australia, England or India – but anywhere where women aspire to play just like them.
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Article references:
- https://www.crictracker.com/5-unbreakable-records-set-by-female-cricketers/
- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/espncricinfo-s-top-25-women-s-cricketers-of-the-21st-century-nos-5-1-1451485
- https://isportindia.com/record/top-10-best-female-cricket-players-of-all-time
- https://www.britannica.com/sports/28-Notable-Women-Cricketers