McGrath crowned world’s new No.1 T20 batter

Tahlia McGrath just needed 16 matches to become the world’s top player, surpassing a slew of A-listers, including her hot-shot teammate Beth Mooney.

Tahlia McGrath’s incredible climb in T20I cricket has continued, with the Australian all-rounder now ranked as the top batter in the world in the game’s shortest format.

In the most recent update of the International Cricket Council rankings released on Tuesday, McGrath, who has played 16 T20 Internationals since making her debut against India last October, outperformed teammate Beth Mooney, Smriti Mandhana of India, Sophie Devine of New Zealand, and the absent Meg Lanning to take the top spot.

It is unclear how exactly McGrath, who has struck 40 and 70 no-balls in the series against India so far, surpassed Mooney, who is also in excellent form after consecutive scores of 89 no-balls and 82 no-balls, due to the irrationalities of the mechanism that sets the rankings system.

Nevertheless, the all-breakthrough rounder’s year at the international level has been rewarded; she is the second-fastest woman to have ascended to the top spot, after only Windies star Stafanie Taylor, who did it after 15 games.

Shafali Verma of India accomplished it in 18 games.

Since making her debut the previous year, McGrath has batted 149.69, has four half-centuries, and has scored 485 runs in 10 innings.

The South Australian has a remarkable average of 121 despite only being eliminated four times in those 10 innings.

She was selected as Australia’s vice-captain and moved up to No. 3 in place of Lanning for this series. On Sunday, in the second T20I, she partnered with Mooney for an Australian T20I record partnership of 158.

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Alyssa Healy, the captain of Australia, said of McGrath on Tuesday, “I think she’s really gained in confidence and confidence goes a long way in this format.”

“It’s a very unpredictable format, but if you go into a match with a little bit more assurance than your opponents, things will usually go your way. I believe TMac has improved as a cricketer, a leader, and a batter.

“She exudes a strong sense of confidence in her skills and what she can accomplish on our side, and I think that’s fantastic.

“It’s a wonderful reward for her for the past 12 months, and I hope she can continue flying for us.”

Just two months after a game, Australia had five top-10 batters.

Australia’s T20I tour of India

Australia won the first T20I by 9 wickets.

2nd T20I: A draw result (India won the Super Over)

Third T20I: December 14 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium (Dec 15, 12.30am AEDT)

Fourth T20I: December 17 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium (Dec 18, 12.30am AEDT)

5th T20I: December 20 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium (Dec 21, 12.30am AEDT)

Alyssa Healy (captain), Tahlia McGrath (vice-captain), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, and Amanda-Jade Wellington are the members of the Australia squad.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Devika Vaidya, S Meghana, Richa Ghosh, and Harleen Deol are all members of the Indian team.