In a busy year of 50-over cricket that included the World Cup, there were plenty of players in contention for the team of 2017
Our best women's ODI team of 2017
1. Punam Raut (IND)
Inn: 14 | R: 653 | Ave: 59.36 | SR: 71.44 | HS: 109* | 100s: 2 | 50s: 3
The India opener wasn't her country's highest run scorer for 2017, but she was effective against strong teams scoring a World Cup century against Australia and 86 against England - twice. She edged out other strong contenders for the opening spot including Tammy Beaumont on the strength of her superior average. She joins Meg Lanning and Natalie Sciver as the only players to score two centuries this calendar year.
2. Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
Inn: 15 | R: 643 | Ave: 58.45 | SR: 64.94 | HS: 149 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 5
The 18-year-old has formed a formidable opening partnership with fellow Protea Lizelle Lee, displaying a maturity beyond her years. She only grew stronger throughout 2017 - her first ODI ton came against Ireland in May, but she followed up with half-centuries against England (twice), Pakistan and Australia during the Women's World Cup. Her strike rate needs improvement, but her weight of runs and the opposition she scored them against earns her this position.
Image Id: 93315C66DD7E41958D774ECB2AAF741D Image Caption: Laura Wolvaardt // Getty3. Meg Lanning (AUS)
Inn: 9 | R: 491 | Ave: 81.83 | HS: 152* | SR: 91.94 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 1
Australia's injured skipper missed two matches during the World Cup and sat out the Ashes after undergoing surgery, but when she was on the field she still flourished, despite being increasingly hampered by her shoulder. She scored a match-winning and record breaking 10th career ton against New Zealand in February and smashed a career-high 152no during the World Cup, all at the impressive strike rate of 91.94.
4. Sarah Taylor (ENG)(wk)
Inn: 12 | R: 525 | Ave: 47.72 | SR: 95.28 | HS: 147 | 100s: 1 | 50s:3
Taylor returned to cricket after a break in fine form this year, scoring a World Cup century against South Africa and a crucial half-century during the Women's Ashes. Initially returning at the top of the order in place of an injured Lauren Winfield, Taylor slotted happily into No.3 for 10 of her 12 innings, but she takes on the job of opening and wearing the gloves in this XI.
5. Mithali Raj (IND)
Inn: 15 | R: 783 | Ave: 71.18 | SR: 76.68 | HS: 109 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 9
India's evergreen captain enjoyed another prosperous year 2017, passing fifty on 10 occasions from 15 one-day innings and reaching triple figures against New Zealand in Derby. Raj became ODI cricket's all-time leading run scorer when she scored 69 against Australia during the World Cup and while she's now aged 35, she's not ruling out another four years playing at the highest level.
6. Ellyse Perry (AUS)
Inn: 12 | R: 515 | Ave: 57.22 | SR: 75.29 | HS: 71 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 6
Inn: 13 | W: 14 | Ave: 35.64 | Eco: 4.63 | BB: 3-47 | 4w: 0 | 5w: 0
Perry was Australia’s leading run-scorer in the Women’s World Cup, posting five-consecutive half-cenuries in the lead-up to the knockout stages. Her consistency with the bat is remarkable, although that maiden ODI ton still alludes her. She also picked up 14 wickets throughout the year, including nine at the World Cup, and remains the world's premier allrounder in the 50-over format.
7. Heather Knight (ENG) (c)
Inn: 12 | R: 503 | Ave: 50.30 | SR: 81.39 | HS: 106 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 3
England's skipper led her team to a World Cup victory on home soil and posted her first international ton during the tournament to boot. Three of her biggest knocks did come against weaker opposition - Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies - but she posted a match-winning 88no against Australia in Coffs Harbour to keep the Women's Ashes alive in November, while her leadership was crucial in securing the World Cup.
8. Dane van Niekerk (SA)
Inn: 18 | W: 31 | Ave: 13.74 | Eco: 3.30 | BB: 4-0 | 4w: 0 | 5w: 0
Inn: 11 | R: 281 | Ave: 31.22 | HS: 57 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1
The South Africa captain took the World Cup by storm with her leg-spin, taking an incredible and unprecedented 4-0 against the West Indies. She followed it up with a further two four-wicket hauls as her team made the semi-finals. She finishes as the world's leading wicket taker for 2017 - despite missing matches with a foot injury before the World Cup, where she headed in lacking match practice - while she was also handy down the order with the bat.
9. Marizanne Kapp (SAF)
Inn: 22 | W: 28 | Ave: 20.82 | Eco: 3.43 | BB: 4-14 | 4w: 1 | 5w: 0
Kapp continued to build her reputation as one of the world's most damaging fast bowlers in 2017, impressing throughout the World Cup with her pace and control. Lethal with the new ball and at the back end of the innings, she played a major role in securing the Proteas' place in the tournament semi-finals, with her economy rate for the year a testament to just how much she troubled the world's batters.
Image Id: 5CFA6BF4224C4290AC9BFA3D5835C5DC Image Caption: Marizanne Kapp // Getty10. Ekta Bisht (IND)
M: 16 | W: 29 | Ave: 17.27 | Eco: 3.39 | BB: 5-8 | 4w: 0 | 5w: 2
Only Dane van Niekerk took more wickets in 2017, with the left-arm spinner particularly effective in the first half of the year as she helped India qualify for the World Cup. That included an incredible haul of 5-8 against Pakistan in Columbo, while she picked up another five-wicket haul against the same opposition during the tournament proper.
Image Id: 56F7343AF3AE470C91905FFE1DC96560 Image Caption: Ekta Bisht // Getty11. Megan Schutt (AUS)
M: 11 | W: 21 | Ave: 22.57 | Eco: 4.69 | BB: 4-26 | 4w: 2 | 5w: 0
Schutt started the World Cup with an impressive display against the West Indies in Taunton, but the remainder of the tournament didn't go as hoped. However she stormed back into form during the Ashes, collecting 10 wickets in three matches and likewise, forcing her way into this side.
12th: Amy Satterthwaite (NZ)
Inn: 11 | R: 446 | Ave: 63.71 | SR: 72.40 | HS: 102* | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2
The New Zealander started the year in red-hot form, scoring a century (her fourth in a trot) in her first ODI of 2017 against Australia, backing it up with 85 days later. But from there it was a largely lean year for the White Fern despite some unbeaten knocks, with just one fifty - against Sri Lanka - during a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw New Zealand miss the semi-finals. Another White Fern, teenage leg-spinner Amelia Kerr, also just missed a spot in the team of the year after picking up 20 wickets including 4-51 against Australia.
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