One of the biggest cricketing events of the 2024 ICC calendar is just around the corner. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in the UAE (at Dubai International and Sharjah Cricket Stadiums) from October 3rd to 20th. Besides the hosts (originally Bangladesh), the top six teams from the 2023 edition, an additional top-ranked ICC team that had not already qualified, and two other qualifying teams will compete for ultimate T20 glory.
Australia, having dominated the previous editions with six wins out of eight, will be keen to maintain their stronghold. However, with the rapid rise of Asian nations like India and Sri Lanka, this year’s tournament promises to be a spectacle for cricket lovers. For fantasy cricket enthusiasts, it’s a wonderful opportunity to craft the perfect dream team.
To help fantasy cricket players stay ahead of the competition, we have compiled a list of five all-rounders to watch out for in the 2024 edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:
Key Fantasy All-Rounder Picks for the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup 2024
This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is full of strong contenders. The Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has already described her team as the ‘best ever’ to appear in this tournament. At the same time, the other teams also look formidable and eager to leave their mark on the greatest stage of them all.
Here are a few key fantasy all-rounders picks for the tournament (in no particular order):
Deepti Sharma – India
- Career Highlights: The Indian all-rounder is known for her left-handed batting and off-spin bowling in T20Is. A key player in India’s World Cup campaigns, she became the first Indian cricketer to achieve 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20Is. Deepti is also a standout performer in leagues like the WBBL and The Hundred, consistently excelling with both bat and ball.
- Recent Performances: In 2024, she became the first Indian bowler to claim a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) against the Delhi Capitals, earning her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the season. In ICC’s T20I rankings, she currently holds the joint-second position among bowlers globally, underscoring her exceptional bowling performances.
- T20I Stats: She has amassed 1020 runs and 131 wickets in 117 T20I matches with a bowling average of 18.70 and a strike rate of a tad above 104.
- Key Fantasy Stats: Deepti Sharma has been a standout performer in T20 cricket over the last two years, averaging an impressive 65 fantasy points per match. She’s made it into the best fantasy XI in three out of four matches she has played, showcasing her consistent excellence. Furthermore, she is an excellent captain choice, as she has been the top fantasy points scorer in 19% of the matches during this period.
Kathryn Bryce – Scotland
- Career Highlights: Kathryn has been the Scottish team leader since 2018. She was awarded the ICC Women’s Player of the Decade (Associate) for 2011-2020. Her trademark inswinging bowling and improvisation in batting have won various crucial matches for Scotland.
- Recent Performances: Kathryn’s power-packed performances in the qualifying rounds included scoring 177 runs and taking nine wickets, which took her team to their first ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- T20I Stats: In her 45 T20I matches, she has scored 1197 runs with the highest score of 73*, averaging 39.90, and a strike rate of 104.08. She has also picked up 46 wickets, with best bowling figures of 4/8 and economy of 4.30 per over.
- Key Fantasy Stats: Kathryn Bryce is a must-have for your fantasy team. With an average of 74 fantasy points across 51 matches in the last two years, and a Best XI% of 75%, she offers solid returns. She is also the Top Fantasy Scorer in 25% of matches she has played during this period making her a solid captain pick.
Chamari Athapaththu – Sri Lanka
- Career Highlights: Chamari Athapaththu has established herself as a key player for Sri Lanka since her debut in 2012, known for her explosive batting and all-round capabilities. Her 77 runs against Australia in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup cemented her status as a legend of Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket, along with her setting the record for the fastest T20I century, achieving 100 runs off just 46 balls in 2018.
- Recent Performances: In 2024, Athapaththu has excelled, particularly during the Asia Cup, where she became the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 243 runs. Notable performances include a remarkable 119 runs against Malaysia and a vital 63 runs in the semi-final against Bangladesh, helping lead her team to the finals. She was recently awarded the ICC Women’s Player of the Month in July 2024 for her outstanding performances.
- T20I Stats: In 140 T20I matches, Chamari has 59 scalps to her name and a massive 3332 runs along with three centuries making her a fearsome all-rounder.
- Key Fantasy Stats: Chamari has featured in 95 T20 matches over the last two years and has maintained an average of scoring 68 fantasy points per game. She is included in the Best Fantasy XI 71% of the matches she plays in and is a consistent Top Fantasy Scorer 23% of the time.
Ashleigh Gardner – Australia
- Career Highlights: Ash Gardner represents a rich legacy of powerful all-rounders from the land down under. She has been instrumental in Australia’s T20 success. Her heroics in the 2018 T20 World Cup finals demonstrate her class.
- Recent Performances: Gardner has been in stellar form, highlighted by her match-winning 5/12 against New Zealand in the 2023 edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
- T20I Stats: In 90 T20I matches, she has scored 1380 runs, with the highest score of 93, and a strike rate of 133.27. She has also picked 72 wickets along the way at an economy of 6.57, and best bowling figures of 5/12.
- Key Fantasy Stats: Gardner has maintained an average fantasy score of 70 over the last two years and is a consistent top fantasy scorer, holding the fort in 18% of matches she plays in. She is in red-hot form going into the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 averaging 87 points in her last two matches, including two 100+ point hauls. She is an excellent fantasy pick and is included in the Best Fantasy XI an astounding 85% of matches she plays in!
Hayley Matthews – West Indies
- Career Highlights: Matthews is at the summit of ICC’s all-rounder rankings for T20Is going into the World Cup. She is often considered one of the most destructive players in women’s cricket. Her 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup final performance at the Eden Gardens is considered one of her finest where she scored 66 runs in just 45 balls and helped West Indies clinch the trophy for the first time.
- Recent Performances: She was named the player of the tournament in the 2023 Women’s Premier League after leading the Mumbai Indians to victory with 271 runs and 6 wickets, earning the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket-taker. Recently, Matthews made headlines with an explosive performance against Australia, where she scored 132 runs off just 64 balls, showcasing her extraordinary batting prowess.
- T20I Stats: Across 96 matches Hayley has accumulated a mammoth 2339 runs and 99 wickets with a highest batting score of 132, and a bowling average of 17.38.
- Key Fantasy Stats: Her insane average score of 81 fantasy points per game for the last two years is topped by her recent form in the previous five matches where she has averaged just shy of 100 points. With her being included in the Best Fantasy XI 85% of times and bagging the Top Fantasy Scorer spot 24%, Hayley Matthews is unquestionably one of the strongest fantasy picks in Women’s T20 Cricket.
Use 11Wizards To Enhance Your Game For The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
To enhance your chances of success in fantasy leagues for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, consider leveraging 11Wizards, the ultimate companion for fantasy cricket enthusiasts. With its advanced predictive analytics and data-driven insights, 11Wizards helps players gain a competitive edge by generating high-quality team predictions tailored to your strategy. The app not only consolidates fantasy contests from top apps like Dream11, My11Circle, MyTeam11 and Vision11, allowing you to choose competitions that match your preferences but also saves time on research by generating multiple lineups based on key match factors. Its intuitive design and user-friendly interface make it accessible for players of all experience levels, empowering you to build high-performing dream teams and access valuable player research tools, ultimately enhancing your chances of victory on top fantasy cricket apps like Dream11 and many more.
Conclusion
As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 unfolds, keeping an eye on standout all-rounders can give fantasy cricket enthusiasts the edge they need to build a winning team. With talented players like Deepti Sharma, Kathryn Bryce, Chamari Athapaththu, Ashleigh Gardner, and Hayley Matthews showcasing their skills on the global stage, selecting the right combination of these powerhouses will be crucial for success. By utilising platforms like 11Wizards, fantasy players can leverage advanced analytics and insights to make informed decisions, ensuring they stay ahead of the competition. With the excitement of the tournament heating up, it’s time to assemble your ultimate fantasy squad and enjoy the thrilling action that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has to offer!
FAQs
When and where is the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 taking place?
The tournament is scheduled from October 3rd to 20th, 2024, at the Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.
Which teams are participating in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup?
The ten teams participating in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 include Australia, South Africa, England, India, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Scotland.
Who are the top-ranked players in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings?
As of September 2024, top-ranked players include Sophie Ecclestone (England) as the No. 1 bowler, Beth Mooney (Australia) as the top batter, and Hayley Matthews (West Indies) as the leading all-rounder.
