Australia vice-captain climbs to fourth, while team-mate Leah Poulton breaks into top 10 for first time
Australia vice-captain, Alex Blackwell, has risen two places in the Reliance Women’s ICC ODI Player Rankings to fourth place after the Southern Stars won the recent Rose Bowl series over New Zealand in Sydney.
Blackwell is now the highest ranked Australian batter in the rankings. India’s Mithali Raj retains the top spot, with ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2011 the West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor in second place.
Joining Blackwell in the top 10, for the first time, is Leah Poulton. Poulton takes ninth spot in the batter rankings.
This is the highest ranking to date of the 27-year-old right-hander from Newcastle, New South Wales and she earns her rankings after scoring 61 not out against New Zealand in the only completed ODI of the three-match Rose Bowl series.
Australian all-rounder Lisa Sthaleker has maintained her eighth ranking, while New Zealand’s Sara McGlashan has slipped one place to now occupy 10th spot after the first two games of the three-match series were rained off.
In the Reliance Women’s ICC ODI Player Rankings for bowlers, India captain Jhulan Goswami is still in top spot with a 10-ratings point lead on Sthalekar.
The Australia all-rounder's single wicket in the final ODI prevented her making ground on the leader.
Fast bowler Ellyse Perry has jumped four places to 7th in the global rankings.
The 21-year-old claimed 3-16 against New Zealand to earn herself the rise in the rankings, while team-mate Sarah Coyte has gained her highest ranking to date, 22nd place.
Julie Hunter has re-entered the rankings in 38th place after the 27-year-old medium pacer claimed 3-31 in Australia’s crushing nine-wicket victory over the White Ferns.
The Reliance Women’s ICC ODI Player Rankings for all-rounders, the table is still topped by West Indies’ Taylor, with Sthalekar in second, while Perry has risen one place to now sit sixth in the table.
Results from Rose Bowl Series between Australia and New Zealand
25 Jan – Australia v New Zealand, SCG – No result
27 Jan – Australia v New Zealand, Blacktown Olympic Park Oval – Match abandoned without a ball bowled
29 Jan – Australia v New Zealand, Blacktown Olympic Park Oval – Australia won by nine wickets
