DUBAI, UAE – The unstoppable rise of West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has reached a new milestone, as she climbs to a career-best fifth position in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, solidifying her status among the world’s most elite cricketers.
Matthews’ unbeaten 104-run masterpiece in the first ODI against Bangladesh at Warner Park, St. Kitts, played a pivotal role in her meteoric rise. Her calculated aggression and dazzling strokeplay not only secured her team’s victory but also elevated her to an impressive 685 points in the rankings. Matthews now trails England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, who holds fourth place with 725 points, by a narrow margin.
“It’s always humbling to see my hard work reflected in the rankings, but I’m more focused on helping the team achieve consistent success,” said Hayley Matthews, exuding gratitude for the recognition.
Campbelle and Fletcher also make gains
The latest rankings also brought good news for other West Indies stars. Wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle climbed a spot to secure 52nd place, underscoring her steady contributions to the team. Meanwhile, veteran leg-spinner Afy Fletcher advanced four places to 28th in the ODI bowling rankings, reinforcing her reputation as a vital weapon in the West Indies’ bowling arsenal.
At the top of the batting charts, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt continues to reign with an imposing 773 points, followed by India’s Smriti Mandhana, who has risen to second place with 738 points.
In the bowling arena, England’s peerless Sophie Ecclestone remains unchallenged, holding the number-one position in both ODIs and T20s. However, Matthews, while excelling as an all-rounder, experienced a slight dip in her bowling rankings, dropping two spots to ninth.
