ICC announces Women's World Cup 2017 team; Mithali Raj named captain

Courtesy: Twitter

New Delhi: The 2017 edition of the ICC Women's World cup concluded on Sunday with England lifting the coveted trophy for the fourth time in the history of  women's cricket.

The hosts defeated India by nine runs and caused a massive heartbreak for the Women in Blue, who were actually cruising for the most part of the match.

Anya Shrubsole, the Player of the Match,  wreaked havoc with her six-wicket haul and snatched victory from Mithali Raj and Co. in the final overs of the Indian innings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the Team of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 with Mithali as its captain.

The 34-year-old from Hyderabad, was selected as captain after she led her side by example by scoring 409 runs in the 30-day tournament, which inspired India to reach only its second final, first in 12 years.

Raj was at her best in a virtual quarter-final against New Zealand in Derby when she scored 109 to steer her side to 186 runs victory. In the semi-final against Australia, the number-two ranked batter in the world scored 36, while in the final against England, she scored 17 before being run-out.

The side includes four players from England, including player of the tournament Tamsin Beaumont, Anya Shrubsole, wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and left-arm spinner Alex Hartley, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma along with Raj from India, three from South Africa including opener Laura Wolvaardt and bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk, and Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry.

England’s Natalie Sciver, who scored 369 runs and took seven wickets, was chosen as the 12th player.

Raj, Taylor and Shrubsole have been picked in the Team of the Tournament for the second time in their careers. 

Team of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 (in batting order):

Tamsin Beaumont (England) – 410 runs

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – 324 runs

Mithali Raj (captain) (India) – 409 runs

Ellyse Perry (Australia) – 404 runs and nine wickets

Sarah Taylor (wicketkeeper) (England) – 396 runs, four catches and two stumpings

Harmanpreet Kaur (India) – 359 runs and five wickets

Deepti Sharma (India) – 216 runs and 12 wickets

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) – 13 wickets

Dane van Niekerk (South Africa) – 99 runs and 15 wickets

Anya Shrubsole (England) – 12 wickets

Alex Hartley (England) – 10 wickets

Natalie Sciver (12th) (England) – 369 runs and seven wickets

The team was selected by a five-person selection panel that comprised Geoff Allardice (ICC General Manager – Cricket, and Chairman Event Technical Committee), former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, former England captain Charlotte Edwards, former India player turned journalist Snehal Pradhan and former Australia all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar.