Women's cricket has come a long way in recent years, exploding in popularity to become one of the biggest brands in cricket. This surge in interest is a testament to the dedication and skill of the sport's incredible athletes. But it's important to remember that this success is built on the shoulders of the pioneering players who came before them. This article honors ten of the greatest female cricketers of all time, who paved the way for the sport's current golden age.

Women’s Cricket has been rising in popularity ever since the 2017 World Cup and in the last 7 years women’s cricket has become one of the biggest brands in cricket. The women cricketers around the world have become recognizable faces and the various leagues around the world for women including the WPL will make women’s cricket into a thriving profession. However the cricketers who have made it possible need to be celebrated and therefore the 10 Greatest of all time will be celebrated.

Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Women’s Cricketers of all time

1) Rachael Heyhoe Flint

The greatest women’s cricketer of all time is the incomparable Rachael Heyhoe Flint of England. She was the captain of England from 1966 to 1978 and she was the first woman to be inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame. She was instrumental in getting the Women’s World Cup started and she led England to the win in that World Cup. She played 22 Test Matches and scored 1594 runs at a good average of 45.54. She made 3 centuries in Test Cricket and in ODIs she played 23 ODIs and made 643 runs at a very good average of 58.43.

2) Cathryn Fitzpatrick

At number 2 is an Australian and there will be multiple players from Australia on this list because they have been the best team to ever play women’s cricket. However Cathryn Fitzpatrick was the best of all. She was the first female bowler to reach the mark of 150 wickets in ODI Cricket. She has won multiple World Cups for Australia as a player. She was the first player to play 100 ODIs in Women’s cricket. She played 13 Test Matches and she took 60 Wickets at an average of 19.11 and she took 180 Wickets in ODI Cricket at an average of 16.79.

3) Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj has to be in the Top 3 greatest cricketers of all time. She has the longest playing career in women’s cricket history and the second longest in ODIs history. She was the one who was the captain when India reached the World Cup Final twice. She has played 12 Test Matches and has made 699 runs. In the 232 ODIs she has played she has made a record breaking 7805 runs at an average of over 50. She has also scored 7 Hundreds. She has also played in 89 T20IS in which she has made 2364 runs. She has the most cumulative runs in women’s cricket and she is on one of the only 2 players to have scored more than 10,000 international runs.

4) Sarah Taylor

One of the best wicket Keepers to have ever played the sport and Sarah Taylor Is the one who is the modern day greatest cricketer for England. She was key for England to win the 2009 and 2016 World Cups for England. Sarah Taylor won the Women’s Cricketer of the Year by ICC in 2014. She has played 10 Test Matches and has taken 18 Catches. In the 126 ODIs she played for England she made 4056 runs and she also made 7 Hundreds. As a wicket keeper she took 87 Catches and effected 51 Stumpings. In T20I Cricket Sarah Taylor played 90 Matches in which she made 2377 runs and she took 23 Catches and had 51 Stumpings.

5) Ellyse Perry

This list would be incomplete without the name Ellyse Perry. She is one of the only players in this list who is still playing active cricket. She has been the best all rounder the sport has seen. She has won 8 ICC Trophies with Australia and a CWG Gold Medal. She was voted the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade in 2020 as well. Ellyse Perry has played 11 Test Matches so far and she has scored 876 runs at a phenomenal average of 73. She has also taken 38 wickets in Test Cricket. In ODI Cricket she has played 135 Matches and she has made 3662 runs at an average of 50. She has also taken 162 Wickets. She has also played 145 T20IS and has made 1737 runs and has taken 123 Wickets.

6) Jhulan Goswami

Jhulan Goswami has had a 20 year career as an active Cricketer from 2002 to 2022. She has made records as a fast bowler and it will be difficult for anybody to break her records. She has won the 2007 ICC Women’s Cricketer of the year. She has taken 43 Wickets in Women’s World Cups which Is the most of all time. She has played 12 Test Matches for India and in those she has picked 44 Wickets at an average of 17.36. In 204 ODIs that she played she took a record 255 Wickets which is the most in history. She has also played in 68 T20IS and has taken 56 Wickets.

7) Belinda Clark

Belinda Clark is one of the most important names in the history of Australian cricket. She is respected and revered by everyone who plays cricket. She was the first cricketer to score a double hundred in ODI Cricket when she made 227 runs in Mumbai. She was the second ICC Hall of Fame inductee for a woman in 2011. She won the 1997 and 2005 World Cup titles with Australia. Belinda Clark played 15 Test Matches for Australia and she made 919 runs at an average of 46. She played 118 ODIs for Australia and she scored 4844 runs at an average of 47.50.

8) Charlotte Edwards

Charlotte Edwards is the longest serving English women’s cricketer of all time. She has played for England for 20 years from 1996-2016. She won the 2009 T20I World Cup for England. She was the 2014 Wisden Cricketer of the year. She is one of 2 batters in women's cricket to have made over 10,000 international Runs. She has played 23 Test Matches for England and has made 1676 runs at an average of 44 with 4 hundreds. She also played in 191 ODIs for England and she scored 5992 Runs for England with 9 hundreds. In the 95 T20IS she played for England she made 2605 runs.

9) Debbie Hockley

The greatest New Zealand Women’s Cricketer of all time. She was the one who Revolutionized New Zealand cricket. Debbie Hockley was the first woman to reach 4000 runs in women’s ODI Cricket. She was also the 1997 World Cup runner up for New Zealand. She played 19 Test Matches for New Zealand and has made 1301 runs at an average of 52.04. She has made 4 hundreds in Test Cricket. She also played in 118 ODIs for New Zealand in which she scored 4066 runs with 4 hundreds as well. She has become the first female president of New Zealand cricket.

10) Meg Lanning

At number 10 is the greatest Australian captain and one of the all time greatest captains to ever play cricket. She has recently retired from International cricket. Meg Lanning is the perfect name to complete this list. She has played international cricket for Australia from 2010 till 2023. She has led Australia to 7 ICC Trophies which is the most by any captain in the history of cricket. She has also won the CWG Gold medal in 2022. Meg Lanning has played 103 ODIs for Australia in which she has made 4602 runs at an average of 53.51. She has made an impressive 15 Hundreds in ODI Cricket. She has also played in 132 T20IS for Australia and has scored 3405 runs at an average of 36.51.