The latest update to the ICC Women’s ODI Team Annual Rankings has brought stability at the top, with the leading pack holding their positions despite a year of high-stakes cricket.
Australia continue to lead the table with a rating of 163, their advantage trimmed slightly but still commanding.
England have strengthened their hold on second, stretching the gap over India to four points, with India placed third at the rating of 124 after a year that has defined their standing in the format.
Australia’s domination in the format continued, having remained unbeaten in ODIs through 2026 so far, sweeping India 3-0 at home before delivering another 3-0 result in the Caribbean.
Even in 2025, they had the edge over India with a 2-1 series win leading into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. At the tournament itself, the seven-time champions looked set for another title run, going unbeaten until the semi-finals, where a standout performance from Jemimah Rodrigues halted their charge.
England’s rise to a clearer second reflects a year of consistency. A 2-1 series win over West Indies set the tone before a tightly contested home series against India saw them fight back to level at Lord’s, thanks in part to a decisive spell from Sophie Ecclestone, though they fell short in the decider.
At the World Cup, England were among the most consistent sides, reaching the semi-finals with just one loss. Their campaign, however, ended against South Africa after Laura Wolvaardt’s commanding innings and Marizanne Kapp’s five-wicket haul proved decisive.
India, meanwhile, have balanced setbacks with a historic high. A 2-1 series win in England was followed by a narrow 2-1 loss to Australia at home, but their defining moment came at the World Cup.
Despite group-stage losses to Australia, England and South Africa, India produced a remarkable turnaround, defeating Australia in the semi-finals before lifting their first major ICC title in front of a home crowd. T
heir start to 2026, however, has been less convincing, with a 3-0 series defeat in Australia exposing areas to address.
Behind them, South Africa remain fourth at 100 rating points, continuing to show consistency across formats. Their run to the World Cup final stood out, alongside series wins over West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Pakistan again, though they faced a recent 2-1 loss in New Zealand.
New Zealand, placed fifth with 93, endured a difficult World Cup with just one win, but have since responded strongly at home, defeating Zimbabwe comfortably and overcoming South Africa 2-1, highlighted by a record chase in Wellington.
Sri Lanka, sixth at 89, have been the biggest movers among the top teams, gaining six rating points. Their World Cup campaign was disrupted by rain, limiting them to just one win, but back-to-back 2-1 series victories in the Caribbean and Bangladesh have brought them closer to New Zealand.
Just outside the top six, Bangladesh have climbed to seventh, overtaking Pakistan, while Thailand and the Netherlands drop out of the rankings after not meeting the minimum match requirement.