The mid-2010s in ODI cricket was all about AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Hashim Amla chasing batting records. Over the last few years, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ross Taylor and David Warner have been dominating the ODI format along with Virat. On a parallel note, Meg Lanning held even better supremacy in Women’s cricket by breaking many ODI batting records through the 2010s.
The previous decade was the highest scoring one in Women’s ODI cricket where runs came at 4.18 per over in the 2010s; a number which would be the smallest in Men’s ODIs barring the 1970s (3.93 RPO). The average runs per wicket in Women’s ODIs during the 2010s was 24.74 whereas no decade in Men’s ODIs had average runs scored per wicket below 25. In such an era, the Australian skipper amassed 3693 runs across 80 ODIs at 52.75 average and a strike-rate of 93.96.
Her average is currently the 5th best for any player in ODI history (Men/Women) and her strike rate is well ahead of any Woman cricketer with 2000+ ODI runs. By virtue of those numbers, Lanning is part of an exhaustive list of players with 50+ average and 90+ strike rate in ODI history. Lanning is the only one from Women’s cricket while the ODI greats AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli have achieved it in Men’s cricket. There was a time when Lanning used to score consistently at an unbelievable career strike rate of 100+.
It is something no one would have thought of in Women’s ODI cricket even today. Since becoming the Australian skipper in 2014, Lanning’s brute intent was cut down as she is now striking at little over 91 per 100 balls which is still quite high for Women’s ODIs. Meg Lanning smashed a 45-ball ton against the New Zealand Women back in 2012 which is still the fastest in Women’s ODIs. There have been only six Men’s ODI tons coming in 45 or fewer balls as on today.
A beast at No.3 and also while chasing
Meg Lanning’s numbers are too good for Women’s cricket that she actually holds an upper hand if we compare her record in certain aspects with that of Men’s ODIs. Lanning currently averages 61.78 and scores at 93.71 strike rate in ODIs at No.3 alone; both being the second-best in all ODI history behind Virat Kohli (62.9 and 94.34). She scores a century every 5.25 innings at this position which is only behind Kohli’s 5.14 and Babar Azam’s 5.09; all the three separated by the narrowest margin of 0.06.
She has been exemplary while chasing targets as her average of 62.71 across 51 ODI chases is only bettered by Virat Kohli (68.33) and Mithali Raj (63). Lanning has amassed more than 2500 runs with eight hundreds while chasing in this format while no other Woman has more than four tons while chasing. She scores a ton ever 5.25 innings during a chase; a ratio which is only behind Virat’s 5.15 across Men’s and Women’s ODIs among the players who have at least five tons.
The century machine
Hundreds in Women’s ODIs are quite rare as a ton is scored every 5.5 matches at an average and is close to once per four ODIs during the last decade. But Lanning, after playing only 80 matches, leads the chart of leading centurions in Women’s ODIs with 13 hundreds. Suzie Bates, with ten tons, is the only other Woman cricketer with 10 or more ODI centuries.
Meg Lanning smashed a hundred every 6.12 innings which is the 2nd best ratio in ODI cricket across Men’s and Women’s cricket. Virat Kohli is ahead of Lanning in this chart too as the Indian batsman scores a hundred every 5.56 innings only. The likes of Babar Azam, Hashim Amla, David Warner and Rohit Sharma occupy the next four places.
The above six players are also the top six players with the best conversion rate in ODI history. This list is headed by Meg Lanning as she has 48.15% in converting 50+ score into a hundred. Lanning crossed the 50-run mark in 27 innings but only on 14 instances, she couldn’t get it into triple figures.
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