Australian cricketer Belinda Clark holds the record for the most runs in a calendar year in women’s ODIs.
The former Australia women’s cricket team captain etched her name in the history books after scoring 970 runs in just 16 ODI matches in the 1997 calendar year. She scored three hundreds and four half-centuries that year and boasted a staggering average of 80.83.
Almost a quarter of that (970) runs came against Denmark during the 1997 Women’s World Cup in Mumbai. Clark smashed an unbeaten 229 off just 155 balls against Denmark in the group stage to record what was the highest individual score in Women’s ODI cricket at that time. The record was later broken by New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr after she scored 232 not out against Ireland in Dublin back in 2018.
Clark was a prolific run-scorer in Women’s ODI cricket as she also accumulated 842 runs in a calendar year in 2000 - the fifth-best tally on the all-time list. In that year, Clark scored 842 runs in 16 ODIs at an impressive average of 76.54. She had one century and six fifties to her name.
South Africa star cricketer Laura Wolvaardt is second on the all-time list for most runs in a calendar year in women’s ODIs. The swashbuckling opening batter has currently scored 882 runs in a calendar year in 2022. Wolvaardt has been in the best form of her life, amassing 882 runs in 18 matches at an average of 49. She has hit one hundred and eight fifties in 2022 so far. Wolvaardt needs another 89 runs to surpass the record of Belinda Clark.
Legendary New Zealand cricketer Debbie Hockley is third on the list. The former Kiwi batter scored 880 runs in 1997. Hockley accumulated the tally in 16 ODIs at an average of 62.85. She registered two tons and six fifties.
Former New Zealand cricketer Amy Satterthwaite features fourth on the list. The former vice-captain of New Zealand women’s cricket team scored 853 runs in a calendar year in 2016. Satterthwaite amassed those runs in just 15 matches at an average of 85.30. She smashed three hundreds and four half-centuries in Women’s ODI cricket in 2016.
Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma are the two Indian cricketers who have amassed more than 700 runs in a calendar year. Both, curiously, achieved the feat in 2017. While Deepti amassed 787 runs in 20 ODIs at an average of 49.18, former India captain Mithali Raj scored 783 runs in 19 matches at an average of 71.18.
Retired England cricketer Claire Taylor (807 runs) in 2005, star Australia duo of Meg Lanning (761 runs) and Ellse Perry (732 runs), both in 2016, complete the top 10.
Most runs in a calendar year in women’s ODIs
| Player | Year | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100 | 50 |
| Belinda Clark (AUS-W) | 1997 | 16 | 970 | 229* | 80.83 | 3 | 4 |
| Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) | 2022 | 18 | 882 | 117 | 49 | 1 | 8 |
| Debbie Hockley (NZ-W) | 1997 | 16 | 880 | 100* | 62.85 | 2 | 6 |
| Amy Satterthwaite (NZ-W) | 2016 | 15 | 853 | 137* | 85.30 | 3 | 4 |
| Belinda Clark (AUS-W) | 2000 | 16 | 842 | 146* | 76.54 | 1 | 6 |
| Claire Taylor (ENG-W) | 2005 | 20 | 807 | 136 | 42.47 | 2 | 4 |
| Deepti Sharma (IND-W) | 2017 | 20 | 787 | 188 | 49.18 | 1 | 7 |
| Mithali Raj (IND-W) | 2017 | 19 | 783 | 109 | 71.18 | 1 | 9 |
| Meg Lanning (AUS-W) | 2016 | 15 | 761 | 134 | 63.41 | 3 | 2 |
| Ellyse Perry (AUS-W) | 2016 | 14 | 732 | 95* | 81.33 | 0 | 9 |
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Featured photo: ICC
