In the latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, a 13-strong panel of writers picked their cross-format women’s team of the year based on performances between October 22, 2017 and November 24, 2018.
To read Wisden Cricket Monthly‘s teams of the year in full, pick up a copy of the January 2019 issue
Words: Jo Harman and Raf Nicholson
1.SMRITI MANDHANA, INDIA
12 ODIs, 669 runs at 66.90, 1 hundred, 7 fifties, strike rate 91 | 25 T20Is, 622 runs at 28.27, 5 fifties, strike rate 131
Recently named among the world’s 50 most marketable athletes in a survey conducted by SportsPro Media (Kohli and Buttler were the only other two cricketers to appear in the list), in the past year Mandhana has progressed from star-in-waiting to the most exciting, and most stylish, young batting talent in the game.
The 27-year-old’s four-wicket display in a nail-biting contest against England particularly stands out. With the world champions cruising at 71-0, it was Poonam who changed the course of the game, taking the wickets of Danni Wyatt and Amy Jones in the 12th over and then dismissing Beaumont caught-and-bowled three overs later. Later, with India in trouble at 190-9 still needing 18 runs for victory, Poonam kept a cool head to finish 7 not out and help her side to a one-wicket win with five balls to spare.
She continued to impress at the World T20, revelling in the spin-friendly conditions of the Caribbean to take eight wickets at 14.
11. MEGAN SCHUTT, AUSTRALIA
1 Test, 2 wickets at 40 | 8 ODIs, 19 wickets at 14.26, economy rate 3.71 | 20 T20Is, 34 wickets at 11.79, economy rate 5.48
Schutt was a key factor behind Australia’s World T20 success, finishing as the tournament’s joint highest wicket-taker to cap a year in which she has cemented her reputation as the leading seamer in the world. It was a continuation of her form during the 2017 Ashes, when she took 16 wickets across the six white-ball fixtures.
A prodigious swinger of the ball with a deceptive slower delivery, Schutt was irresistible under lights in the second ODI at Coffs Harbour, trapping both openers lbw in her opening spell and returning at a crucial juncture to dismiss Fran Wilson and Katherine Brunt when England threatened to chase down their target.
The 25-year-old claimed another four-wicket haul at the same venue three days later before taking four more in the first T20I at the North Sydney Oval in a victory which ensured her team retained the Ashes.
Who did we miss? Let us know on Twitter @WisdenCricket or email editorial@wisden.com
