The annual update of the ICC Women’s ODI team rankings has reaffirmed Australia’s dominance at the top, even as England and India continue to close the gap. The recalibration, which factors in results from the past three years with a heavier emphasis on recent matches, has seen subtle but significant shifts in the standings, highlighting the competitive nature of women’s international cricket.

Australia’s reign continues in the ICC Women’s ODI team rankings

Australia, the seven-time ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions, remain the undisputed leaders in women’s 50-over cricket, boasting a formidable 167 rating points. Despite their continued supremacy, their lead over second-placed England have shrunk from 44 points to 40 after the latest update. England now sit at 127 points, while India, riding a wave of recent successes, have climbed to 121 points-narrowing the gap to just six points behind England.

This annual update, which assigns a 50 percent weighting to matches played between May 2022 and April 2024 and full weighting to more recent games, has recalibrated the rankings to better reflect current form. Notably, South Africa’s achievements in the 2022 World Cup are no longer counted, impacting their position and that of other teams like the West Indies.

New Zealand (96), South Africa (90), and Sri Lanka (82) round out the unchanged top six. The Proteas, despite reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, have dropped nine rating points, underscoring the impact of the update’s methodology. The West Indies have slipped from seventh to ninth, overtaken by Bangladesh (79) and Pakistan (78), after losing ten rating points.

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India and England make strides as the chase intensifies for the top spot

While Australia’s dominance remains clear, the narrative below them is one of tightening competition. England’s consistent performances have solidified their hold on second place, but it is India’s surge that stands out. Gaining eight rating points overall, India have closed the gap to England from 11 points to just six, signalling their growing threat to the established order.

This progress is a testament to India’s recent form, including a strong showing in the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. Key performances from players like Smriti Mandhana, who notched her 11th ODI century, have propelled India’s ascent and injected fresh excitement into the rankings race.

Elsewhere, the annual update has led to a reshuffle among the lower-ranked teams. USA have been dropped off the table after losing ODI status, leaving a total of 15 teams in the rankings. The new structure ensures that recent results carry more weight, rewarding teams that have performed well in the latest cycle and keeping the rankings dynamic and reflective of current strengths.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.