"I want to stay at the top": No.1 ranked King keen to keep throne Alana King, the newly crowned No.1 ODI bowler, has expressed her determination to maintain her position at the top of the ICC rankings. The Australia leg-spinner emphasized her commitment to improving her game and contributing to her team’s success. After a strong performance in the one-day leg of the multi-format series against India, where she took seven wickets at an average of 16.71, including a crucial 4-33 in the third match, King secured her first No.1 ranking in the ODI bowling rankings, ending Sophie Ecclestone’s 1,450-day reign. While her focus in Perth was on the pink ball and a potential return to Test cricket, King acknowledged her white-ball success as a reward for her hard work. “It definitely came as a surprise when I saw it on socials earlier today, but it’s a nice little reward,” she said in an interview with cricket.com.au. “But I don’t think you can be satisfied with just getting there. You want to hopefully stay at the top – and I’m just going to keep focusing on doing my role for this team.” King highlighted the importance of her teammates in her journey, stating, “I absolutely love this team, and I think they helped me get to places and create those chances and take those wickets.” She also emphasized the need for continuous improvement, noting, “I speak to a lot of people about my bowling, and just want to keep getting better every chance I can.” The 30-year-old’s ambitions extend beyond rankings. She aims to transform the WACA Ground into a spinners’ paradise during the upcoming Test match against India. Despite the challenges of a predicted Perth scorcher, King remains confident in her ability to exploit the conditions. “I think the best thing for me is I get to bowl for a lot longer,” she said.#india #alana_king #alyssa_healy #waca_ground #icc_rankings
Multiple new No.1s crowned in latest women's rankings update Alana King and Smriti Mandhana have secured the top positions in the Women’s ODI Bowling and Batting Rankings following their performances in a series of matches against India. King, an Australian bowler, ended Sophie Ecclestone’s nearly four-year reign at the top of the bowling rankings with a rating of 775, while Mandhana, an Indian batter, surpassed Suzie Bates to claim the batting title with a rating of 790. Their achievements came after a week of action that included three ODIs, where both players delivered standout performances. King’s rise to No.1 was fueled by her exceptional bowling in the third ODI, where she took four wickets for 33 runs in 10 overs, contributing to Australia’s 185-run victory over South Africa. Her overall figures of seven wickets at an average of 16.71 further solidified her position, marking her first No.1 ranking and a career-high rating. King is now joined by four other Australian bowlers in the top eight of the rankings: Ash Gardner (third), Annabel Sutherland (fifth), Megan Schutt (seventh), and Kim Garth (eighth). Mandhana’s ascent to the top of the batting rankings was driven by her consistent scoring, including half-centuries of 58 and 31 during the series. Her performance pushed her past South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk, who will have the chance to reclaim the spot when the Proteas face New Zealand in March and April. Mandhana’s success highlights her growing influence in the format, as she continues to dominate with the bat. Beyond the top two, several other players saw their rankings improve. Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, and Alyssa Healy played pivotal roles in Australia’s series victory, with Healy concluding her ODI career with a century in her final match.#india #alana_king #smriti_mandhana #sophie_ecclestone #suzie_bates
