India’s T20I vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was selected in the ICC’s Women T20I team of the year for 2021, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. England's Nat Sciver has been named the captain of the side while Amy Jones will be donning the wicket-keeping gloves.
Mandhana is the only Indian player to feature in the XI, with multiple England women’s cricketers making the cut.
With 255 runs at an average of 31.87, Smriti Mandhana was India's highest scorer in the format in 2021. She scored two fifties in the nine matches she played this year, and got her team off to rapid starts regularly, as evident by her strike rate of 131.44.
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She was chosen as an opener with England’s Tammy Beaumont, who in nine matches amassed 303 runs at an average of 33.66, including three fifties. Danni Wyatt with 252 runs in nine matches, at an average of 31.50 came in at the no.3 spot.
Gaby Lewis of Ireland also made the cut, becoming the first Irish woman batter to hit a T20I century when she made 105* against Germany on the opening day of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier.
Batting in the middle-order, Nat Sciver scored a total of 153 runs, including one fifty, and she also picked up 10 wickets at an excellent average of 20.20 and has been named the captain of the team.
Amy Jones will be keeping wickets in this XI but she contributed with the bat as well scoring 151 runs, which came at a superb strike rate of 142.45. Laura Wolvaardt scored her runs with a mind-boggling strike rate of 161 and at an average of 53.66.
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Marizanne Kapp made 100 runs and picked 8 wickets in T20Is in 2021. Sophie Ecclestone spun a web around batters picking 11 wickets in nine matches, at an excellent average and strike-rate of 17.18 and 17.9 respectively.
Phiri played nine T20I matches for Zimbabwe and claimed a stunning 16 wickets, including best figures of 5/6. South African Shabnim Ismail picked up 11 wickets at a mean average and strike rate of 13.00 and 12.0 respectively. This includes a five-for as well.
ICC Women's T20I Team of the Year 2021:
Smriti Mandhana (India), Tammy Beaumont (England), Danni Wyatt (England), Gaby Lewis (Ireland), Nat Sciver (C-England), Amy Jones (WK-England), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Loryn Phiri (Zimbabwe), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa).
