Alyssa Healy (Australia, wk) R: 509, Ave: 56.55, SR: 104, C: 4, S: 4
Healy’s 509 runs at the top, that too scored at a strike rate of 104, are the most by anyone in a single edition of the World Cup. A whopping 293 of these – at a strike rate over 120 – came in the semi-final and final alone, helping her win the Player of the Tournament winner. If that is not enough, she will also keep wickets…
Rachael Haynes (Australia, c) R: 497, Ave: 62.12, SR: 83
As Healy blazed away to glory, Haynes ensured the wicket stayed put, scoring runs with a hunger to match few. She finished with only 12 runs fewer than Healy in the World Cup, that too at a better average. The pair put on 671 runs at an average of 74.55 with three century partnership. The Australian vice-captain will also lead the XI.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) R: 433, Ave: 54.12, SR: 78
Only 22, Wolvaardt has already established herself as one of the most promising young batters in the world. Already a prominent name, her dazzling strokeplay only reconfirmed that status. She finished as the leading run-scorer of the league stage before one failure put her – and South Africa – off the race.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies) R: 260 Ave: 37.14 SR: 80 W: 10 Ave: 26.80 Econ: 4.33 C: 6
Matthews’ performance in West Indies’ stunning win against New Zealand was arguably the finest all-round show of the tournament. West Indies faded out after a great start and were knocked out in the semi-final, but Matthews finished with most runs, most wickets, and joint most catches for them.
Nat Sciver (England) R: 436 Ave: 72.67 SR: 93 W: 4 Econ: 4.88 C: 5
Until the end, Sciver had already done magnificently in the World Cup, but without that one memorable innings. That came in the final, when her once-in-a-lifetime unbeaten 148 on a burning deck was the sole reason many did not switch off their television sets until the match got over. She also chipped in with four wickets.
Beth Mooney (Australia) R: 330 Ave: 110 SR: 101 C: 7
The Australians were seldom under pressure in the World Cup. But if the remotest chance of that loomed, Mooney stepped up, and stayed put when her turn came. She batted nine times and was dismissed only thrice, providing the finishing touches whether Australia batted first or chased. She also held most catches among non-wicketkeepers.
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) W: 12 Ave: 26.25 Econ: 4.73 R: 203 Ave: 40.60 SR: 92 C: 3
Promoted up the order in Dane van Niekerk’s absence, Kapp played some crucial cameos in the middle order. None of that had an impact on her primary role, of one of the finest bowlers with the new ball as well as at the death. Only three women had more wickets in this World Cup.
Pooja Vastrakar (India) W: 10 Ave: 18.30 Econ: 4.69 R: 156 Ave: 26 SR: 99
Barring the redoubtable South African pace attack – the most potent of the tournament – no seamer had more wickets in the World Cup than Vastrakar, arguably India’s most improved bowler this season. She also got runs from down the order, striking at nearly a run a ball.
Sneh Rana (India) W: 10 Ave: 24 Econ: 4.24 R: 101 Ave: 25.25 SR: 90 C: 4
One of the finest spinners in the middle overs, Rana’s off breaks were a revelation in the tournament. Her 10 wickets and an economy rate of 4.24 bear testimony to that. She also contributed with quick cameos down the order, providing batting depth the Indian team has not known for some time.
Sophie Ecclestone (England) W: 21 Ave: 15.61 Econ: 3.83 R: 98 Ave: 24.50 SR: 98
Ecclestone, the top-ranked bowler in the world, took 6-36 in the semi-final against South Africa, the best figures of the tournament. However, so far was she ahead of others that she would have finished as the leading wicket-taker of the World Cup even if she had gone wicketless that day.
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) W: 14 Ave: 17.50 Econ: 4.02
Fast and hostile with the new ball and canny at the death, Ismail finished only behind Ecclestone in terms of wickets, and is three wickets shy of being the second-highest wicket-taker in ODI history. She will spearhead this bowling attack in a formidable XI.
XI of ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: Alyssa Healy (Aus, wk), Rachael Haynes (Aus, c), Laura Wolvaardt (SA), Hayley Matthews (WI), Nat Sciver (Eng), Beth Mooney (Aus), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Sneh Rana (Ind), Pooja Vastrakar (Ind), Sophie Ecclestone (Eng), Shabnim Ismail (SA).