World’s 25 best female cricketers revealed: Sophie Devine ranked No. 1 by expert panel

Alyssa Healy dominates with the bat and the gloves. But where does she rank in the Top 25 female cricketers in the world? Find out.

Australians dominated the top 25 list but did not take out the top spot.

In front of a packed MCG back in early 2020, Meg Lanning’s Australia proved emphatically that they were the dominant force in women’s cricket, claiming the T20 world title in glorious style.

But sport doesn’t stand still. Some 12 months on, who can lay claim to being the best player on the planet? It is a question we put to a host of eminent voices in the women’s game.

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Our elite panel of 10 – Fox Sports’ Isha Guha, Aussie greats Lisa Sthalaker, Karen Rolton, and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Alex Hartley (English player and commentator), Ben Sawyer (Sixers WBBL coach), Alison Mitchell, News Corp sportswriter Liz Walsh, Jude Coleman (assistant coach of the SA Scorpions) and Marina Iqbal (former Pakistan vice-captain, current commentator) – submitted their nominations to produce a definitive list of who’s who in world cricket ...

THE VOTING PANEL

ISA GUHA – Former England player, commentator

A lightly built fast bowler, Guha took 140 international wickets for England before becoming one of the most respected voices in the game as a lead commentator with both Fox Sports and the BBC.

Isa Guha formed part of our women’s cricket 25 judging panel.

CATHRYN FITZPATRICK – Former Australian fast bowler, former Australia coach

One of the most feared quicks in history, Fitzpatrick was the first women to take 100 ODI wickets. A member of the ICC Hall of Fame, Fitzpatrick has been heavily involved in coaching at all levels since retiring in 2007.

LISA STHALEKAR – Former Australian captain, commentator

One of Australia’s most decorated cricketers, Sthalekar captained Australia to the 2013 World Cup title and is the country’s sixth all-time leading runscorer. Now commentates on Channel 7.

ALEX HARTLEY – England cricketer, commentator

Left-arm spinner with a fine international and domestic record, Hartley was named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year after helping England win the World Cup in 2017.

BEN SAWYER – Australian assistant coach, Sydney Sixers coach

A two-time WBBL-winning coach with the Sixers, Sawyer has the best winning record in the competition’s history – and as assistant coach in the national team, has an in-depth knowledge of the women’s game.

Revered cricket commentator Alison Mitchell.

ALISON MITCHELL – Commentator

A trailblazer, Mitchell has been commentating on men’s and women’s international cricket for 15 years – and is a leading voice for Channel 7 and the BBC.

MARINA IQBAL – Former Pakistan cricketer, commentator

A former vice-captain, Iqbal spent six years in the Pakistan national team as an opener before transitioning to the commentary booth.

Australian cricket legend Karen Rolton.

KAREN ROLTON - Former Australian captain

A quick-scoring top-order batter, pivotal to Australia’s international success in the late 1990s and 2000s, playing 141 one-day internationals and 14 Test matches.

JUDE COLEMAN - Assistant coach of the Adelaide Strikers and SA Scorpions

Opening bowler who played 60 WNCL games for Queensland Fire and also captained the Australian indoor cricket team from 2005 until 2017, winning multiple World Cup titles.

LIZ WALSH - News Corp Australia cricket writer

News Corp National Sports Newsroom sports writer and women’s cricket expert.

Originally published as World’s 25 best female cricketers revealed: Sophie Devine ranked No. 1 by expert panel