Not even a South Africa fairy-tale could stop Australia from claiming their third T20 World Cup title in a row. They remain the reigning Commonwealth Games champions, World Cup champions and T20 World Cup champions. Their dominance over the sport for such a prolonged period gives them a claim to be the best international cricket team ever to have existed.

While Australia were the victors, South Africa provided a storyline which brought them to their first World Cup final, men’s or women’s, and England’s new brand under Jon Lewis saw them bring plenty of hard-hitting entertainment. With India just falling short in the semi-final, it’s no surprise those four teams make up the entirety of this XI.

Mentions should go to Lea Tahuhu, Nashra Sandhu, Ayabonga Khaka, Tazmin Brits, Suzie Bates and Hayley Matthews, who miss out on this side, as well as Muneeba Ali for her sublime century against Ireland.

Wisden’s 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup team of the tournament

Alyssa Healy – Australia

5 matches, 189 runs at 47.25, SR: 115.95, HS: 55
1 catch, 3 stumpings

One half of the unbreakable Australia opening partnership who both make this XI, Healy once again delivered on the biggest stage. 2022 was a relatively poor year for her in T20Is, but she was once again key for Australia’s domination with the bat. She scored her first T20I fifty in two-and-a-half years against New Zealand in the group stage, before another unbeaten half-century against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha.

Beth Mooney – Australia

6 matches, 206 runs at 51.50, SR: 117.71, HS: 74*

Mooney’s sublime knock in the final against South Africa saw her become the only player to hit two half-centuries in women’s T20 World Cup finals. On a tricky used pitch in Cape Town, she timed her innings perfectly to lead her side to a big total, smashing a six and a four in the final over of the innings to end unbeaten on 74. The innings in the final was her third fifty in the tournament, the joint-most in this year’s edition.

Smriti Mandhana – India

4 matches, 151 runs at 37.75, SR: 138.53, HS: 87

Batting at three in this side, Mandhana was one of the standout openers in the tournament. After scoring a fifty against England, she blasted a career-best 87 off 56 balls against Ireland, hitting six boundaries in the 16 balls she faced after reaching her half-century. She ends the tournament as India’s leading run-scorer.

Laura Wolvaardt – South Africa

6 matches, 230 runs at 46.00, SR: 106.48, HS: 66*

South Africa’s best batter stepped up when her side needed her the most. Having scored an unbeaten 66 against Bangladesh to seal South Africa’s place in the semi-final, she hit two more consecutive fifties in the knockout rounds. It’s a mark of her class and importance to South Africa that while she remained at the crease in the final, there was still hope they could chase down Australia’s total. She hit 61 off 48 balls before she was dismissed lbw by Megan Schutt.

Nat Sciver-Brunt – England

5 matches, 216 runs at 72.00, SR: 141.17, HS: 81*

Another impressive World Cup for Nat Sciver-Brunt. Back as England’s vice-captain after taking a break from the role following the Commonwealth Games, she was the lynchpin in England’s order that enabled their aggressive approach. Her 81* against Pakistan just fell short of her highest-ever T20I score. She demolished the Pakistan bowling attack, playing all round the wicket until the penultimate over was eying up a century. She dragged England up to a respectable total against India and brought them to within touching distance of a place in the final against South Africa. She finished the tournament as the second-leading run scorer.

Ash Gardner – Australia

6 matches, 10 wickets at 12.50, ER: 6.25, BBI: 5-12
110 runs at 36.66, SR: 119.56, HS: 31

A stand-out tournament for Ash Gardner. She took her first T20I five-for in Australia’s opening match against New Zealand, cleaning up the tail to complete a huge victory for Australia by 97 runs. She was the Player of the Match in the semi-final against India, bowling at the death and taking the crucial wicket of Sneh Rana to vanquish India’s chances of sneaking over the line. More than handy with the bat, she was promoted to three in the final, scoring 29 off 21 including two sixes.

Richa Ghosh – India

5 matches, 136 runs at 68.00, SR: 130.76, HS: 47*
5 catches, 2 stumpings

Fresh from U19 World Cup glory, Richa Ghosh continued her remarkable form in the senior event. India’s final group stage match against Ireland was the first time she was dismissed in the tournament, having scored 31*, 44* and 47* previously. Her strike rate of 130.76 sets her apart from the rest in the lower-middle order in this tournament. She also has the most dismissals of any keeper in the tournament and would challenge Healy for the gloves in this side.

Marizanne Kapp – South Africa

6 matches, 9 wickets at 15.44, ER: 6.27, BBI: 2-13
58 runs at 14.50, SR: 120.83, HS: 27*

Having come into the tournament in difficult circumstances after her wife, Dane van Niekerk, was controversially left out of South Africa’s squad, Kapp was back to her best as the tournament went on. Economical with the ball at the start of the tournament and, as ever, stepping up on the big occasion – she scored a rapid 27* off 13 balls against England, putting South Africa’s total out of reach. She took two crucial wickets in the final, dismissing first Healy and then Meg Lanning, and was an inevitably vital part of South Africa’s campaign.

Sophie Ecclestone – England

5 matches, 11 wickets a 7.54, ER: 4.15, BBI: 3-13.

The outstanding bowler of the tournament. Before England’s semi-final against South Africa, Ecclestone had gone three matches without conceding a boundary. She finishes as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with an economy rate of 4.15. Only once you get to Grace Harris in 21st place in the wicket-taking standings with two wickets in the tournament, do you find a bowler with a better economy.

Shabnim Ismail – South Africa

6 matches, 8 wickets at 16.12, ER: 5.86, BBI: 3-27

Pace and hostility as always set Shabnim Ismail apart from the other quick bowlers in the tournament. She was by far the fastest bowler of the competition and sent down one of the quickest overs in women’s World Cup history against England in the semi-final, coming so close to hitting 80mph. The two wickets she took in the powerplay of that match set up a famous victory for South Africa.

Megan Schutt – Australia

6 matches, 10 wickets at 13.50, ER: 6.13, BBI: 4-24

The leading wicket-taker amongst seam bowlers in the tournament, Megan Schutt was in the wickets in every match she bowled in. She opened the tournament by taking 2-8 against New Zealand, before picking up a fourth career four-wicket-haul against Sri Lanka. She finished her tournament by taking the crucial wicket of Wolvaardt in the final, effectively sealing another World Cup title for Australia.