Laura Wolvaardt and Chamari Athapaththu Nominated for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year

Dubai, Dec 30 (NationPress) South African batter Laura Wolvaardt and Sri Lankan allrounder Chamari Athapaththu have been nominated for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2024 alongside Annabel Sutherland of Australia and Melie Kerr of New Zealand.

Wolvaardt achieved a remarkable total of 697 runs in 12 ODIs, showcasing an average of 87.12, with her highest score reaching 184. In addition, she scored 223 runs in three Tests at an average of 37.16, and collected 673 runs in 9 T20Is averaging 39.58, including a top score of 102 in 2024.

She has proven to be a critical player for the Proteas, leading the team as the all-format captain and consistently scoring vital runs at the top of the order.

Wolvaardt currently holds the position as the leading batter in the ICC Women’s ODI rankings. Her peak performance came with her career-best score of 184 not out against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom in April.

The 25-year-old guided South Africa to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Final, where she was the top scorer for her team, ultimately finishing as runners-up against the White Ferns. Wolvaardt also emerged as the leading run-scorer of the tournament.

Athapaththu accumulated 458 runs from nine ODIs, averaging an impressive 65.42 with a highest score of 195, while also claiming 9 wickets with a best of 3-15. In the T20 format, she scored 720 runs in 21 matches, achieving a top score of 119, while taking 21 wickets, with best figures of 4-29.

As Sri Lanka’s all-format captain, Athapaththu is ranked among the top 10 players in both the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I rankings for batters and all-rounders. Her exceptional year includes over 1000 runs across formats and 30 wickets, solidifying her status as one of the most influential figures in women's cricket.

The 34-year-old was named Player of the Tournament at the Women’s Asia Cup in July, scoring 304 runs and taking three wickets, leading her team to their first championship.

Athapaththu's standout moment in 2024 was during an ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom, where she scored an unbeaten 195 off 139 balls, leading Sri Lanka to victory.

Sutherland has tallied 210 runs in one Test while also taking 5 wickets. Across 12 ODIs, she has scored 369 runs and claimed 13 wickets.

The 23-year-old has had a breakout year, establishing herself among the world’s premier all-rounders in the 50-over format.

She made headlines in February with a record-setting Test double century, scoring 210 runs from the No. 6 position against South Africa at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Sutherland made history as the first female cricketer in ODI history to score consecutive centuries while batting at No. 5 or lower during a series against New Zealand.

Furthermore, she became the second youngest Australian to achieve three ODI centuries, only behind former captain Meg Lanning.

Melie Kerr from New Zealand has made significant contributions with 387 runs and 43 wickets in 2024, highlighted by leading her team to their first Women’s T20 World Cup title and establishing a national record for the most Women’s T20I wickets in a single calendar year.

Her crowning achievement was during the White Ferns’ successful World Cup campaign, where she scored 135 runs and took a record 15 wickets, culminating in their first Women’s T20 World Cup victory.