Dubai: Indian women’s ODI team skipper Mithali Raj and T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur have been named in the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year, as announced by the governing body of cricket on Thursday.
Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht however is the lone Indian to feature in the squads for both the formats. England captain Heather Knight has been named as the skipper of the ODI side while West Indian Stafanie Taylor would lead the T20I side.
After a spirited performance in the World Cup earlier this year where they almost pulled off a win in the final against England, the Indian eves continue to make the country proud. Raj, who leads the run-scorer’s list in women’s ODI led her team from the front in the World Cup. Harmanpreet, the aggressive batswoman too played a crucial role in India’s run up to the final with a whirlwind 171* against a strong Australian side in the semis.
Ekta Bisht’s inclusion in both the squads isn’t surprising at all as she has enjoyed a considerable amount of success in both the format. She took 34 wickets in 19 ODIs while she has taken 11 wickets in seven T20Is from September 21, 2016.
Interestingly, lanky pacer Jhulan Goswami, who is the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODI cricket doesn’t feature in any of the lists.
Also in a first, the ICC has announced an award for the best moment of the year where the fans would get to vote for their favourite cricketing moment of 2017.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year:
Tammy Beaumont (England), Meg Lanning (Australia), Mithali Raj (India), Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand), Ellyse Perry (Australia), Heather Knight (captain) (England), Sarah Taylor (wicketkeeper) (England), Dane van Niekerk (South Africa), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Ekta Bisht (India), Alex Hartley (England).
ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year:
Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper) (Australia), Danni Wyatt (England), Harmanpreet Kaur (India), Stafanie Taylor (captain) (Windies), Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Deandra Dottin (Windies), Hayley Matthews (Windies), Megan Schutt (Australia), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia), Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand), Ekta Bisht (India).