This Friday, the Womens T20 World Cup kicks off in Australia. Two groups of five will compete for progress to the semi-finals, with the top two from each group making it through. In Group B, we have West Indies, England, South Africa, Pakistan and Thailand.

West Indies had a successful tournament in 2018, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by the eventual champions Australia. Whilst their form in the format has not been ideal over the last few years, they still have some of the most exciting players in the tournament lining up for them.

Deandra Dottin is among the best attacking batters in the world, particularly if she’s facing spin – in the last two years she scores at 8rpo against spinners, and only gets out every 38 balls.

With ball in hand, captain Stafanie Taylor will be looking to Shakera Selman to make inroads at the top of the inning – nobody swings the ball more than her over the last two years of T20I cricket, and on the hard fast pitches of Australia, movement through the air will be crucial.

If all goes to plan, West Indies will be more than confident of progressing to the knockout stages.

England made the final in the last edition of the T20 World Cup before, like West Indies, being eliminated by Australia. Heather Knight’s side are still somewhat in transition, but a new-found balance relying on Nat Sciver to bowl four overs has allowed them to play an extra specialist batsman – it’s given the batting line-up some serious oomph. On the bowling side of things, Sophie Ecclestone is a very important part of the English attack. A tall left-arm orthodox spinner, no player has taken more wickets for England in T20Is since the start of 2018 than Ecclestone, with 35 wickets in that time at an average of 16.82. Offering control as well has attacking threat, she’ll be the likely fulcrum of the England attack. Knight will see anything but progress from the group as abject failure, and they’ll be eager to go all the way.

Pakistan bowl 76% spin over the last two years – that’s the most of any team in the world during that period. Much like Bangladesh in Group A, this does at least give them a clear blueprint to work to, a basic structure that they can focus on in the absence of many acclaimed stars. If they have one standout player it’s Bismah Maroof, who has notched up 782 T20I in the last two years, comfortably the most of any Pakistan batter and the 11th most for anyone in the world. If anyone in Pakistan green is going to spring a shock on the opposition, it’ll be her.

In contrast to Pakistan, South Africa bowl 76% pace over the last two years, the most of any side in the competition. They were a disappointment at the last T20 World Cup, not reaching the semi-finals. Their bowling is mixed, but their batting is likely to focus round a few key individuals, and one in particular. Alyssa Healy is renowned as an absolute colossus, but Chloe Tryon – at least statistically – is almost keeping pace with her. A powerful left-hander, Tryon is particularly effective against spin bowling, rocketing along at 8.6rpo (compared to 7.6rpo against seamers). The South African has a particular preference for hitting off spinners, scoring 180 (113) against off break bowlers in T20I cricket. Given how much spin is bowled in T20 cricket, this sets Tryon apart, her strength and power meaning that she doesn’t need pace on the ball to cause damage – South Africa will be looking to her to really lift the scoring rate when she’s at the crease.

Thailand are the most notable presence at this T20 World Cup, an unfamiliar presence in top level cricket for both men and women. However, much of their success in recent years and in qualification is down to Nattaya Boochatham. A skillful right-arm seamer, Boochatham has taken a LOT of wickets since the start of 2018; in fact, in that time period, only Poonam Yadav has taken more international T20 wickets than Boochatham. Undoubtedly, this has been given a boost by the standard of opposition that Thailand have been facing, but it’s been Boochatham who has done the damage in those matches. If Thailand are going to lay a glove on any side at this tournament, she’ll have to be at her best.

Analysis by CricViz

-CWI