As we celebrate Women’s Day today, 8 March 2025, we will take a moment to talk about one of the rarest techniques, leg-spin bowling. It is often considered cricket’s one of the most complex techniques and has been a domain of mastery and innovation since the beginning of time. While the spotlight has been taken by male leg spinners like Shane Watson and Anil Kumble, the contributions of female leg spinners can’t be overlooked.
These women have redefined the craft with their remarkable delivery every time and continue to pose a threat to batters all across the globe. From introducing new variations to delivering match-winning performances, these female leg spinners have left an incredible mark on cricket history. So on this women’s day, we aim to celebrate the top four female leg spinners of all time.
Alana King
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Alana Maria King is an Australian leg spinner known for her exceptional right-arm leg-spin bowling. She is celebrated all over the world for her control, variations, and ability to deliver under pressure. She made her international debut in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of the most prominent players in cricket history.
Her best performance was in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022, where she took 12 wickets at an average of 24.50, which made her the second-highest wicket-taker for Australia.
She also made history by becoming the first woman to take a hat-trick and delivering 10 consecutive dot balls in The Hundred. She has been a consistent performer in domestic leagues and has been among the top players. She also claimed 16 wickets in the 2021-22 Women’s Big Bash League. With milestones like a five-wicket haul in Test cricket, she truly deserves a top spot in this celebration of female leg spinners on this women’s day.
Poonam Yadav
Poonam Yadav is one of the most accomplished female cricketers of all time. She is a master of right-arm leg spin bowling and delivered deceptive bowls that prove to be a nightmare for batters. She’s known best for her exceptional googly and variations. Yadav made her debut in 2013 and has achieved remarkable success across all formats since then.
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She has claimed a total of 80 wickets in 58 matches in ODIs and 98 wickets in 72 matches in T20Is. Her standout performance was when she delivered a game-changing performance in the Asia Cup in 2018, taking four wickets for 13 runs. She was ranked among the top bowlers globally during her peak years and is truly one of the greatest leg spinners of all time.
Sophie Ecclestone
Sophie Ecclestone is known for her remarkable accuracy and control in slow left-arm orthodox bowling in women’s cricket. Standing at 5″11, her height adds a unique angle to all her deliveries, making her more effective than others on different surfaces.
She has numerous accolades, including becoming World Number 1 in T20Is at the young age of 20 years. She became the leading wicket-taker in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022. She also received the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and ICC Women’s Player of the Month in June 2021.
Jess Jonassen
Jess Jonassen is a highly skilled Australian left-arm orthodox spinner. She began playing cricket at a young age with boys and quickly rose through the sport. She made her international debut in 2012 and became a significant part of Australian cricket.
Her ability to bowl effectively at any stage of the innings is what sets her apart. Her most notable achievements include being a part of multiple winning squads in the ICC T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup. She is also the fourth woman to take 100 ODI wickets for Australia, she is definitely one of the most deserving candidates to celebrate on women’s day.
Also Read: Steve Smith’s Top 3 Historic Centuries That Shaped His ODI Legacy
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