England
It’s sink or swim time for the brand new head trainer, Jon Lewis, who – like Lisa Keightley and Mark Robinson ahead of him – unearths himself confronted with the check of a World Cup only some months into his new position. The collection towards West Indies printed a few of his pondering: the 22-year-old seamer Lauren Bell is nearly positive to take the brand new ball. On the opposite hand, exactly what position Katherine Sciver-Brunt will play in her swansong World Cup is still noticed.
Key participant: Alice Capsey, By some miracle, the 18-year-old has recovered from surgical operation in December to fix a damaged collarbone. Cue sighs of aid all spherical – the right-handed batsman goes to be central to England’s new competitive technique.
Australia
What to mention a couple of group that has gained each and every World Cup since 2017, plus gold within the Commonwealth Games? Clearly, they’re the favorites via miles. Perhaps the only unknown is how they’re going to fare in South African prerequisites, for the reason that (bizarrely) Australia have by no means performed a sequence there. Watch out for freshmen Kim Garth (previously of Ireland) and Heather Graham, who took a hat-trick towards India in December simply days after making her world T20 debut.
Key participant: Meg LanningMark II. Back on the helm after a five-month absence ultimate yr for psychological well being causes, has the skipper rediscovered her mojo?
Bangladesh
Winless prior to now 3 T20 World Cups, however their U19s pulled off a surprise end result within the opening fit of the U19 T20 World Cup, beating Australia via seven wickets. Three of the ones gamers are known as up for the senior event – Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter and Disha Biswas – and they’re going to be hoping for the same disappointed.
Key participant: Nigar Sultana, The wicketkeeper used to be Bangladesh’s main run-scorer in 2022 and led them to a seven-run win towards Ireland within the ultimate of the qualifying event for this World Cup in September.
India
“It’s time to win the senior World Cup now,” Shafali Verma instructed Richa Ghosh after the pair helped seal India’s triumph towards England within the ultimate of the inaugural U19 event ultimate weekend. India had been the one aspect to overcome Australia in any fit in the entire of 2022, profitable a super-over mystery in Mumbai in December, so possibly Verma is correct? Confidence is the whole lot…
Key participant: Renuka Singh Thakur, The ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2022 is aware of easy methods to unsettle the Aussies, as she proved within the opening fit of the Commonwealth Games when the seam bowler had them 34 for 4 ahead of someone may blink.
Irish
This is Ireland’s first World Cup since 2018 and they’re going to wish to placed on a excellent display. A tender aspect – moderate age 24 – is at the up, inspired via the advent of full-time central contracts via Cricket Ireland for seven gamers in March 2022, and their inclusion on this cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. Fresh from a historical T20 collection win towards Pakistan in November.
Key participant: Gaby Lewis stays the one Irish girl ever to have scored a century in T20 internationals (towards Germany in 2021) – her runs might be essential.
New Zealand
After a disappointing sixth-place end of their house World Cup ultimate yr, New Zealand might be aiming to reach a greater end result this time. There is pleasure in regards to the go back of wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout, who has spent the ultimate two years clear of the sport coping with insomnia and an consuming dysfunction. If their warmup collection towards England is anything else to head via, she might be someplace close to the highest of the order, along celebrity Suzie Bates.
Key participant: Sophie Devine, The skipper has been suffering with a foot pressure fracture – it’s going to be an enormous blow for the Kiwis if she is not handed are compatible to play in time for his or her event opener.
Pakistan
Resoundingly crushed via Australia in 3 ODIs and two T20s, Pakistan is also a little demoralised. But the go back of head trainer, Mark Coles, who did wonders with the group from 2017 to 2019, is a stroke of fine fortune. Let’s see if he can flip issues round once more.
Key participant: Nida Dar, She is also 36, however “Lady Boom-Boom” (as she phrases herself because of her admiration for Shahid Afridi) has nonetheless were given some firepower within the tank. With fast bowler Diana Baig dominated out with a fractured finger, her off-spin may also be extra essential than ever.
south africa
Controversy erupted previous this week when it emerged that South Africa had not noted their captain and famous person all-rounder, Dane van Niekerk, from their squad, after she had failed a 2km time-trial via 18 seconds. Should they no longer achieve the semi-finals in their house World Cup, arms might be pointed on the trainer, Hilton Moreng, whose health requirement is “non-negotiable”.
Key participant: Marizanne Kapp used to be her aspect’s standout performer within the 2022 World Cup, with 203 runs and 12 wickets. The problem? She occurs to be married to Van Niekerk and used to be granted “compassionate leave”. Whether she might be in the correct state of mind to accomplish at her very best upon her go back to the squad is an open query.
Sri Lanka
It’s been a difficult few years for Sri Lanka, after their board failed to prepare any world cricket for them between March 2020 and January 2022, the usage of Covid as a at hand excuse. But they beat Bangladesh and Pakistan throughout October’s Asia Cup, and – much more excitingly – chased down a goal of 139 towards a full-strength India ultimate June. Have they grew to become a nook?
Key participant: Harshitha Samarawickrama, She used to be Sri Lanka’s absolute best run-scorer on the Asia Cup (202 runs), together with hitting 81 off 69 balls towards Thailand. They might in the end have discovered their subsequent Chamari Athapaththu.
West Indies
A case find out about of what occurs while you win a World Cup after which fail to capitalize on it. You need to really feel for the captain, Hayley Matthews, who used to be participant of the fit within the 2016 ultimate and is now being compelled to bravely communicate up a group who’re persistently being smashed via better-resourced warring parties. Could be a difficult event for her and her aspect.
Key participant: Stefanie Taylor, Has been out of world cricket since September nursing a again damage, however the hope is she is going to go back more potent and be offering Matthews the backup she so desperately wishes.