Mithali, Jhulan maintain top spots in ICC ODI Rankings

Mithali Raj and bowler Jhulan Goswami maintain their respective top spots in the ICC Women`s ODI Player Rankings.

Dubai: India`s batswoman Mithali Raj and bowler Jhulan Goswami maintained their respective top spots in the ICC Women`s ODI Player Rankings.

Mithali, though is facing a tough competition from ICC Women`s Cricketer of the Year 2011, allrounder Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies, who has an opportunity to usurp the former in the ODI series against India in St Kitts. Taylor is just 11 ratings points behind table-topper Mithali, who has held the No. 1 spot since February 21, 2010 after scoring 91 not out against England in Bangalore. Meanwhile, Mithali also has a chance to widen the gap with Taylor as a few strong performances with the bat could see her gain points. In the bowlers` list, Jhulan is expected to maintain her numero uno position comfortably as two of her closest contenders for the top spot -- Lisa Sthalekar of Australia and Katherine Brunt of England -- are not playing in the series, which are about to commence in West Indies and New Zealand, respectively. Jhulan`s teammate left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana (583 rating points) will be hoping to climb up the ladder from her current ninth place and leapfrog West Indies` Taylor who is currently in eighth place on 589 rating points. Outside of the top 10, Amita Sharma of India is currently ranked 13th. The all-rounders` list is topped by Taylor, who will have both Amita and Jhulan snapping at her heels as the Indian duo are in third and fourth places respectively. PTI