5 best women cricketers in the world right now

Cricket will likely always be a male-dominated sport, but the women’s game is gaining traction and is in better shape now than ever before. The first women’s Big Bash will take place during the 2015-16 season and a Super League in England is also scheduled to commence next year.Women’s cricket has many differences to men’s. The lack of brute power makes the sport more technical and the balance between batsmen and bowlers arguably fairer. The boundaries are typically shorter and the women also use a lighter ball. However, despite the changes, the sport remains cricket – the game we all know and love.Here are the five best female cricketers in the world today, and five players you will likely hear much more of if women’s cricket gets more television exposure.

#1 Meg Lanning

Australian woman cricket team captain

Born in Singapore in 1992, hard-hitting Meg Lanning has already established herself as of the world's most prolific young batswomen. She has hit six ODI centuries – only Charlotte Edwards, Claire Taylor and Karen Rolton have more – and her 1735 runs in the 50-over game have come at a strike-rate just shy of 100.

Lanning has also excelled in T20 internationals. The Australian captain guided the Southern Stars to international glory at the 2014 World Twenty20, striking a match-winning 44 off 30 in the final against England, finishing the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 259. Lanning’s 65-ball 126 against Ireland early in the event was the highest-ever score in the format.

Lanning has been in fine form during the women’s Ashes, with efforts of 104 and 85 in the ODI matches, although she could muster only three runs in the Test match. But at just 23 years old, Lanning looks set to dominate the sport for many years and she will most likely break multiple batting records.