Which women’s cricket record may be the hardest to break?

Jhulan Goswami’s 255 ODI wickets could be one of the hardest records to break because modern players may not get enough ODI matches.

Who holds the record for the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket?

Kiran Baluch holds the record with 242 runs for Pakistan against West Indies in 2004.

Who was the first player to score a double century in ODI cricket?

Belinda Clark was the first player, male or female, to score an ODI double century. She made an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997.

Who has played the most international matches in women’s cricket?

Suzie Bates became the first woman to reach 350 international appearances in 2025 and continued to add to her tally.

5 women's cricket records that may never be broken

Women’s cricket has grown rapidly in recent years, with more matches, better facilities and professional contracts. Players now compete more often and have better support than earlier generations. However, some records set by past stars still look almost impossible to break.

The game has changed significantly over the past decade. More teams are competitive, professional contracts are becoming common, and young players are entering international cricket with better preparation. However, some women’s cricket records in ODIs and Tests are becoming harder to challenge because players may not get enough opportunities to play.

ODIs now have to fit around T20 leagues, ICC events and workload management. Women’s Tests are even rarer, with many top players playing only a few matches in their careers. Here is a look at five women cricketers whose remarkable records stand out because of their size or unique nature.

5. Kiran Baluch’s 242 vs WI in Test cricket

Kiran Baluch’s 242 vs WI in Test cricket

Kiran Baluch’s 242 against West Indies in 2004 remains the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket. The Pakistan opener played a brilliant innings in Karachi, facing 488 balls and hitting 38 fours. Her knock played a key role in helping Pakistan post a huge first-innings total of 426/7 declared.

Women’s Test cricket is played much less often than limited-overs cricket, giving batters fewer chances to score big. Several players have scored double centuries since Baluch’s record-setting innings, but none have managed to surpass her score of 242. The rarity of women’s Tests makes this record even harder to challenge.

The length of Baluch’s innings, the number of balls she faced and the limited number of women’s Tests make her record one of the toughest to break. Unless Test cricket opportunities increase significantly, her 242 could remain the highest individual score for many years.

Brief Scorecard of PAK W vs WI W, Mar 15, 2004

Pakistan Women: (T:162) 426/7d & 58/2
West Indies Women: (f/o) 147 & 440

4. Suzie Bates's 350 international appearances

Suzie Bates's 350 international appearances

New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates became the first woman in cricket history to play 350 international matches on October 6, 2025. She reached the milestone during New Zealand’s ODI World Cup match against South Africa in Indore, adding another major achievement to her long international career.

Suzie Bates and Charlotte Edwards both reached impressive appearance milestones during their careers. Edwards played 309 international matches for England across Tests, ODIs and T20Is before retiring. Bates went a step further by becoming the first woman to reach 350 international appearances and continued playing into 2026, taking her total even higher.

Reaching such a huge number of international appearances requires exceptional fitness, consistency and longevity. With modern cricket demanding more travel and involving multiple formats, staying at the highest level for two decades is extremely difficult. Bates’s record could therefore remain a tough one for future players to break.

3. Mary Duggan — 77 Wickets in Women’s Test Cricket

Mary Duggan — 77 Wickets in Women’s Test Cricket

Mary Duggan’s 77 wickets remain the most by any bowler in women’s Test cricket. The England great achieved the record during an era when women’s Test cricket was more common than it is today. Her tally has remained untouched because modern players get very few opportunities to play the longest format.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt is one of the leading bowlers of the modern era, but even she played only 14 Tests for England between 2004 and 2022. She took 51 wickets in those matches, showing how difficult it is for even a world-class bowler to get close to Duggan’s 77-wicket record.

The biggest reason this record may never be broken is the limited number of women’s Test matches. A bowler can have outstanding ability, but without enough Tests, reaching 77 wickets is extremely difficult. Unless women’s teams start playing Test cricket much more regularly, Duggan’s record could remain safe for many years.

2. Belinda Clark’s Double Century (229* vs Denmark, 1997)

Belinda Clark’s Double Century (229* vs Denmark, 1997)

Belinda Clark made cricket history on December 16, 1997, when she became the first player in international cricket, male or female, to score a double century in an ODI. The Australian captain smashed an unbeaten 229 off just 155 balls against Denmark during the 1997 Women’s World Cup in Mumbai.

Clark’s innings included 22 boundaries, while she scored 141 runs through running between the wickets. Her brilliant knock helped Australia post 412/3 before they bowled Denmark out for just 49 runs. Her 229* remained the highest individual score in women’s ODI cricket for more than two decades.

The record is special because Clark achieved it long before ODI double centuries became more common. Although modern batters have greater opportunities and better conditions, scoring 200-plus runs in an ODI remains a huge challenge. Clark’s historic 229* therefore remains one of the most memorable records in women’s cricket.

1. Jhulan Goswami’s 255 ODI Wickets

hulan Goswami’s 255 ODI Wickets

Jhulan Goswami’s 255 ODI wickets remain the most by any bowler in women’s international cricket. The Indian fast bowler retired in 2022 after a career that lasted more than 20 years. She took 255 wickets in 204 ODIs at an average of 22.05, with her best bowling figures being 6/31.

Goswami also became the first woman to take 200 ODI wickets when she reached the milestone in February 2018. She was also the first female bowler to deliver more than 10,000 balls in ODI cricket. Her consistency and longevity helped her build a record that remains well ahead of the other leading wicket-takers.

Modern cricket schedules are crowded, but bowlers also face more workload management and rotation. Fast bowlers often share the new ball and are rested regularly to manage their fitness. With fewer opportunities to play 200-plus ODIs, matching Goswami’s remarkable tally of 255 wickets could be extremely difficult for any future bowler.