Windies Taylor breaks into ICC top 10 batting rankings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC – Exciting teenaged West Indies opener Stefanie Taylor yesterday burst into the top 10 of the ICC One-Day International batting rankings, on the heels of her impressive form in recent weeks.

The 18-year-old right hander secured ninth spot in the rankings, a career-best achievement, after starting the recent three-match series against England in 11th place.

West Indies stormed to a 2-1 series win over the 50-over and Twenty20 champions England, after winning the final ODI by one wicket on Saturday at Warner Park in St Kitts.

The series was tied 1-1 after West Indies won the first match on Wednesday by 40 runs and England captured the second on Thursday by 13 runs.

Entering the series on a high after a maiden, unbeaten 108 against South Africa last month, Taylor failed to get going in her first two knocks, managing just 24 and two.

However, the Jamaican produced a valuable knock of 43 to help fire the home team to victory in the final match.

Taylor is now the only West Indies batsman in the top 20 with experienced opener Pamela Lavine jumping 11 spots to 23rd, to lie just outside that frame.

Also an extremely tidy off-spinner, Taylor has also risen 10 places in the bowlers’ rankings to another career-best position of 23rd. As a result, she has also broken into the top five all-rounders for the first time.

India’s Mithali Raj leads the batting rankings while England left-arm spinner Holly Colvin is on top the bowlers’ rankings. Australian off-spinner Lisa Sthalekar is the top all-rounder.