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The Women’s T20 World Cup got underway on Friday, with India taking a surprise win over hosts and tournament favourites, Australia.
This is the seventh World Cup played since the tournament was founded in 2009, and been run biannually since 2010. Australia have won four World Cups, with England having won the first one in 2009 and the West Indies winning one in 2018.
After winning in the West Indies in 2018, Australia are on hosting duties with the tournament lasting seventeen days, with the final being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on International Women’s Day. Ten teams will be playing over the next couple of weeks, countries that include England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka. Thailand also made their tournament debut against the West Indies last Saturday.
Australia are the tournament favourites, with a good track record and arguably the best team in the world. Their side is jam-packed with big names in Aussie cricket such as captain Meg Lanning, wicket-keeper and batswoman, Alyssa Healy and, of course, the best all-rounder in the game, Ellyse Perry, who recently won the prestigious Belinda Carlisle award at the Cricket Australia awards.
However, despite this all-star line-up, the Aussies had a dreadful start in their efforts to retain the World Cup. India won by 17 runs to kick-start their campaign to win their first ever World Cup. Efforts from Alyssa Healy, who contributed 51 runs to the Australian score were no match for India. An unbeaten 49 from batswoman Deepti Sharma set India up for a solid 132-4. Poonam Yadav, got 4-19 as the Australians struggled to get off the mark and failed to reach the target, falling for 115 all out.
A shock Australian defeat will be reassuring to the rest of the competitors, proving that the top-ranked side in the world are only human and are capable of being defeated. England will be hoping to make a serious impact on the tournament, after winning the 50 over World Cup in 2017, and to showcase some of the talent within the squad. They go into the World Cup under new coach, Lisa Keightley, who will be aiming to see her side progress well to the later stages of the tournament.
England are a side who have a lot of talent. Captain Heather Knight excelled in Australia’s Big Bash tournament over the winter, scoring 282 runs for the Hobart Hurricanes. Furthermore, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has burst onto the scene and cemented herself firmly in England’s bowling line-up after taking a series of wickets in the tri-series against India and Australia and producing consistent results.
Whatever the outcome, this edition of the World Cup promises to be a good one. With hosts Australia fazed at the first hurdle, other teams will be sure to pounce on their moment of weakness. Sides like India and the West Indies shouldn’t be dismissed as serious challengers, and a strong New Zealand side will be sure to try and quietly sneak their way to the final. Hopefully England can capitalise on their recent good form, and with a new coach, try out some new tactics to win the tournament.
Last modified: 24th April 2020
