Edwards climbs ICC rankings

Charlotte Edwards has climbed six places in the ICC ODI women's batting rankings after a series of admirable displays in Australia

England captain Charlotte Edwards has risen to third in the ICC ODI women’s batting rankings following her impressive performances on the tour of Australia.

Edwards scored 188 runs in the three 50-over matches at the WACA, although her efforts were not enough to prevent England from suffering a 2-1 series defeat.

Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar has climbed two places to sixth, while team-mate Shelley Nitschke - the ICC women’s cricketer of the year for 2010 - remains in second spot.

England have three further representatives in the top 10 in the form of Claire Taylor, Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway.

Sthalekar has also improved her position in the bowling rankings. She now lies third, one place ahead of England’s Laura Marsh, who has achieved a career-best rating of 715.

Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn and Holly Colvin occupy sixth, eighth and 10th position respectively.

Mithali Raj continues to lead the way in the batting standings, with fellow India star Jhulan Goswami topping the bowling list.

Nitschke is the highest-ranked all-rounder, with Sthalekar in second and West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor in third.