No Australian players made it into the Women’s T20 Team of the Year.
Orla Prendergast, with her outstanding all-round performances throughout the year, earned a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 Team of the Year. The Irish all-rounder’s stellar displays with both bat and ball made her stand out, but the absence of any Australian players in the lineup has caught many by surprise.
The 2024 Women’s T20 Team of the Year features the highest representation from India, with three players. South Africa has two, while Sri Lanka, West Indies, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Ireland each have one player.
Prendergast turned heads with her remarkable performances last year, starting with a 67 off 48 balls against Zimbabwe in January. She followed it up with two more half-centuries during the year. In 18 T20Is, she scored 544 runs at an average of 36.26 and took 21 wickets with her pace bowling at an impressive average of 12.90, including a career-best 4 for 22.
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt leads the team as captain. In 19 T20Is in 2024, she scored 673 runs at an average of 39.58, including one century and three fifties. Partnering her at the top is India’s Smriti Mandhana, who was in sensational form. She amassed 763 runs in 23 T20Is at an average of 42.38 and a strike rate of 126.53, setting a record for the most runs in a calendar year in Women’s T20Is, with eight half-centuries.
Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu also had a stellar year, scoring 720 runs in 21 T20Is at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 126.76, including two centuries and five fifties. She also took 21 wickets with her off-spin, maintaining an economy of 6.36.
West Indies’ Hayley Matthews shone with both bat and ball, scoring 538 runs in 16 T20Is at an average of 35.86 and a strike rate of 121.99, with five fifties. She also claimed 14 wickets with her off-spin.
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, another all-rounder in the XI, scored 423 runs in 16 T20Is at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 133.86, including three half-centuries. She also picked up seven wickets with her medium pace.
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, a star all-rounder, made the cut with her incredible contributions—387 runs and 29 wickets in 18 matches. India’s wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh also earned her place with 365 runs in 21 matches, including two fifties.
South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, a pace-bowling all-rounder, scored 399 runs and took 11 wickets in 16 T20Is. India’s off-spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma had a brilliant year, taking 30 wickets and scoring 155 runs in 23 matches.
The lone specialist bowler in the lineup is Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, who claimed 30 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 14.30.
ICC Women’s T20 Team of the Year 2024:
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (India), Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Richa Ghosh (India) (Wicketkeeper), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Orla Prendergast (Ireland), Deepti Sharma (India), Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan).
