Dubai: India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami Monday rose to the summit of the ICC women’s rankings for ODI bowlers following her influential role in the team’s series win over England recently.
The 36-year-old Goswami, who last held the top spot in February 2017, finished with eight wickets in the series while helping her team reach second position in the eight-team championship that provides direct qualification berths to hosts New Zealand and four other top teams in the 2021 Women’s World Cup.
India are second with 16 points from 15 matches while New Zealand are on 14 from 15. Reigning World champions England are behind South Africa in fifth position, with 12 points from as many matches.
Goswami, the most successful bowler in ODIs with 218 wickets, has inched closer to the record for the most number of days at the top. She has now been number one for 1873 days, with only retired Australia fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick having spent more time at the top, for 2113 days.
Goswami’s new-ball partner Shikha Pandey has gained 12 spots to reach fifth position after also finishing with eight wickets against England. It is for the first time in nine years that two India bowlers are in the top five after Goswami and Rumeli Dhar were in that bracket in 2010.
Stylish left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana, who is the leading run-scorer in the current edition of the ICC Women’s Championship with 837 runs, has consolidated her position at the top with a career-best 797 points.
PTI