The T20 World Cup is again with England hoping to finish Australia’s dominance.
Because the first version in 2009, England have reached three finals with none success, whereas Australia have gained 5 of the seven toururnament, together with the final two in 2018 and 2020.
India, New Zealand and hosts South Africa will hope to carry their first World Cup title, whereas West Indies will harbour hopes of clinching a second after beating Australia within the 2016 showpiece.
South Africa open the match in opposition to Sri Lanka in Cape City on Friday, with England taking part in their first match on Saturday in Paarl in opposition to West Indies, earlier than Australia tackle neighbours New Zealand on the identical stadium.
Sky Sports activities takes a glance by way of the contenders for this 12 months’s World Cup…
England
England got here up brief within the massive occasions final 12 months, shedding to Australia within the closing of the 50-over World Cup after which struggling a semi-final exit to India on the Commonwealth Video games.
The brand new 12 months presents new alternatives below a brand new coach, after Jon Lewis took over from Lisa Keightley earlier than the West Indies tour in direction of the tip of the 12 months.
Sophie Eccelstone had a formidable 2022 and might be key for England in South Africa. Pic CWI Media
There’s a actual buzz across the younger England facet, with Sophie Ecclestone, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell established names within the T20 format.
Ecclestone made her debut as a 17-year-old and has gone on to to develop into the most effective bowlers in white-ball cricket. Useful with the bat decrease down the order, she might be a key participant for England this 12 months.
With the bat, England have a mixture of expertise and youth and might be boosted by the inclusion of Alice Capsey, who has nailed down a spot at quantity three and recovered from a dislocated shoulder in time for the World Cup.
The World Cup would possibly come a bit too quickly for England’s younger facet, however moving into as underdogs would possibly go well with them. They’ll anticipate to get previous the group levels at the least.
Squad: Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt
Reserves: Issy Wong and Dani Gibson
Australian gained their fifth T20 World Cup in 2020
Australia
The standout favourites for the T20 World Cup as soon as once more, Australia have dominated girls’s cricket in recent times.
The generational facet gained one other World Cup final 12 months, so as to add to a gold medal on the Commonwealth Video games and an Ashes win to cap off one other profitable 12 months.
Australia had been unbeaten by way of the ODI World Cup and have proven little indicators of shedding their aura.
Wins all year long in opposition to England and India confirmed their continued superiority within the girls’s sport and with Meg Lanning again after taking an indefinite break and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham included after a prolonged damage lay off, Australia arrive in South Africa in a assured temper.
Squad: Meg Lanning (captain), Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
India had a combined 2022 and fell brief throughout the Commonwealth Video games
India
The runners-up on the earlier T20 World Cup, India are nonetheless trying to find their maiden world title.
They’re in a tricky group alongside England, the West Indies, Pakistan and Eire, with a gap match in opposition to bitter rivals Pakistan on February 12 in Cape City.
Final 12 months was a combined 12 months for India’s girls. They beat Sri Lanka within the closing of the Asia Cup, however misplaced the December dwelling collection in opposition to Australia 4-1 and had been narrowly overwhelmed by England in October’s three-match collection.
India’s group match in opposition to England can have some added chunk to it after the final match between the 2 sides ended with a controversial Mankad wicket, that led to a war of words between both camps.
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The final time England performed India, the match led to controversial trend
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India’s facet, her third successive World Cup as captain.
Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as vice-captain, after she impressed just lately on the high of the order.
India welcome again Shikha Pandey after the bowler was chosen within the shortest format after greater than a 12 months, whereas Pooka Vastrkar is included regardless of health issues.
Kaur’s facet are among the many favourites and can hope to go one higher than the 2020 version of the match.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey.
Reserves: Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh.
New Zealand
New Zealand are outsiders going into the World Cup in South Africa, however head coach Ben Sawyer is not ruling his facet out.
In November 2020, Sawyer mentioned his group have “put collectively a blueprint of how we need to play” and with veteran skipper Sophie Devine main the facet as soon as once more, New Zealand will imagine they will spring some surprises on the World Cup.
Devine is joined within the squad by regulars Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Maddy Inexperienced and Hayley Jensen, whereas skilled wicketkeeper-batter Jess McFadyen may very well be in line for a debut after she was included as a substitute for Izzy Gaze.
New Zealand had a formidable 2022, shedding simply three T20s
New Zealand beat England to the bronze medal throughout the Commonwealth Video games however completed third from backside of their World Cup group. In addition they gained a T20 collection in opposition to Bangladesh at dwelling and in opposition to West Indies away.
Total, New Zealand solely misplaced three of their 14 T20 matches in 2022 and go into the World Cup in good kind.
Squad: Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Maddy Inexperienced, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
May West Indies and South Africa break Australia’s dominance?
The West Indies aren’t the identical facet that reached 4 semi-finals and a closing at earlier editions of the World Cup and had been dominated by England within the current collection on dwelling soil.
South Africa’s finest finishes got here in 2020 and 2014, once they reached the semi-finals however can have dwelling benefit on their facet though are with out common captain Dane van Niekerk, who did not “meet the minimal standards for health”.
Either side are able to springing surprises and can should be carefully watched throughout the match.
West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.
South Africa squad: Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Lara Goodall, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, Tazmin Brits, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sune Luus (captain), Anneke Bosch, Delmi Tucker.
Non-traveling reserves: Micaéla Andrews, Tebogo Macheke, Tumi Sekhukhune
Squads
Pakistan: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwer, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Sadaf Shama, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Ameen, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper), Tuba Hassan
Reserve: Ghulam Fatima and Kainat Imtiaz
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter, Fahima Khatun, Salma Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Rumana Ahmed, Lata Mondol, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Sobhana Mostary
Reserves: Rabeya, Sanjida Akther Maghla, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Sharmin Akter Supta
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya, Vishmi Gunaratne, Tharika Sewwandi, Ama Kanchana, Sathya Sandeepani
Eire: Laura Delany (captain), Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Rachel Delaney, Mary Waldron
Watch the ICC Ladies’s T20 World Cup dwell on Sky Sports activities in from February 10.
