The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the 2023 ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year on Monday, January 22.
The ICC set off the 2023 awards announcement week by unveiling the T20I Team of the Year in both men’s and women’s categories. In the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year, they’ve recognized 11 outstanding players who left a mark with their bat, ball, or all-round performances in 2023.
The team boasts a constellation of stars, acknowledging players who excelled in both batting and bowling, significantly contributing to their teams’ success in T20Is. Australia dominates the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year – 2023, with the highest number of players, while England has two representatives. Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies each have one player in this esteemed lineup. The captaincy honor goes to Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu.
Chamari Athapaththu had a remarkable 2023 in T20Is, starting with a Player of the Match performance in Cape Town during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She smashed 68 off 50 balls, leading her team to a stunning 3-run victory over hosts South Africa. Ending the year with a record 470 runs at a strike rate of over 130, she also played a crucial role in her team’s historic T20I series win against England in England.
Beth Mooney, the Australian wicketkeeper-batter, takes the responsibility behind the stumps and is set to open the batting alongside Athapaththu. South African batter Laura Wolvaardt, the second-highest run-scorer at the 2023 T20 World Cup with 586 runs at an average of 45, claims the number 3 spot.
West Indies batting all-rounder Hayley Matthews, with 700 runs at a strike rate of 132 and 19 wickets at an economy of 6.84 in 2023, secures the number 4 position. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, with 364 runs at a strike rate of 136 and an average of 15.50 in T20Is in 2023, is the second English player alongside spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
New Zealand’s bowling all-rounder Amelia Kerr, showcasing her talent with 365 runs and 12 wickets using her leg spin, is among the team’s many all-rounders. Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, and Megan Schutt also secure spots in the best-playing eleven, recognized by the ICC for their stellar performances in the T20 World Cup and other T20I series.
In contrast to the four players in the 2022 Team of the Year, only India’s Deepti Sharma made it into the 2023 team. The batting all-rounder scored 106 runs and claimed 21 wickets in T20Is last year, showcasing her prowess on the field.
Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023:
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Beth Mooney (Wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Megan Schutt.
