The Women's T20 World Cup 2026 uses a skill scale to rate players' strengths and weaknesses through specific metrics.
A new skill scale was developed to evaluate player styles in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Created by cricket data specialists CricViz alongside the International Cricket Council, the ratings are regularly displayed during major tournament broadcasts. The scale aims to illustrate how players perform, highlighting their key strengths and potential weaknesses based on past performances. This version was tailored specifically for the event in England and Wales.
All metrics on the skill scale are scored from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating a greater influence of that metric in a player's style. For bowlers, the key metrics are threat, control, and variation. Batters are evaluated on power, control, and innovation. Ratings rely on data collected since the start of 2023 and are assigned only to players who have faced or bowled at least 180 deliveries.
The skill scale helps determine whether certain teams, opponents, or playing conditions suit or challenge a player's style, considering the variety of competitions and opponents they face. It is a flexible system that adjusts to different situations and rival players. Broadcasting these ratings during matches adds depth to viewer understanding of player contributions.
For batters, power measures how often a player hits sixes, though it does not imply overall batting skill. Control reflects how much a batter's percentage of controlled shots exceeds others in the same matches, rewarding precision. Innovation tracks the frequency of unconventional shots like scoops, reverse hits, or sweeps against fast bowlers, rewarding creativity in shot selection.
Bowlers are assessed on threat, which compares their strike rate to others in the same matches and phases. Control evaluates how their economy rate compares to peers. Variation measures how often they deliver different types of balls beyond their standard delivery, such as cutters, yorkers, or googlies, rewarding versatility.
Former England captain Heather Knight stands out among batters with exceptional ratings of 96 for control and 97 for innovation, placing her in the top five for both metrics. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp ranks among the top five bowlers for threat and control, scoring 95 and 99 respectively. England fast bowler Lauren Bell excels in all three bowling metrics, achieving 95 for threat, 97 for control, and 98 for variation.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and New Zealand's Melie Kerr have earned top five rankings in at least one batting metric and one bowling metric. The skill scale highlights how players adapt to different roles and conditions during the tournament. These ratings provide insights into player versatility and strategic impact.