Cricket at the Commonwealth Games is set to get underway on the 29th of July which is now just a few days away. The tournament opener is a modern-day cricket rivalry in the making with India and Australia set to lock horns. The game will have us witness a couple of young superstars take charge for their sides and a few more as the tournament proceeds.
Darcie Brown
19-year-old Darcie Brown from Australia in the tournament opener will be in the spotlight. The Aussie quick made her debut for Australia last year against New Zealand, the sample size of her T20I career is small with 3 wickets in 4 T20I games. The speedster for Australia has been their frontline pick bowler alongside senior pro-Megan Schutt. Darcie Brown gets the ball to swing both ways and her little extra pace helps her extra bounce which has made her a big asset for Australia who’ve backed and groomed her skills. Darcie has been bowling economically well with a rate of just over 5.
Shafali Verma
18-year-old Shafali Verma will be in business against Australia in the tournament opener, the contest of youngsters between Shafali and Darcie could be one to watch out for. As a 15-year-old Shafali became the youngest Indian to debut in the T20I format and since then she’s played 32 games and the powerful opener has smashed 753 runs with a decent average of nearly 25. Shafali has got 3 fifties to her name and the highest score of 73 that she’ll wish now looking more mature to better on and that directly means its money in the bank for India at the Commonwealth Games.
Tuba Hassan
21-year-old Tuba Hassan for Pakistan could well be a game changer. Tuba was part of the Pakistani contingent that toured New Zealand for the World Cup but wasn’t in the main 15. She made her crack into the team and even in the XI in Pakistan’s very next series post World Cup against Sri Lanka. In her debut T20I a few months back, Tuba Hassan registered outstanding figures of 3/8 in her four overs, which saw her top the list of best figures on debut by a Pakistani bowler. The leg-break bowlers’ performance got recognition as she was awarded player of the month by ICC and was the first from Pakistan to receive one. In her 4 innings, she’s picked up 6 wickets with an excellent economy of 3.80. She’s certainly a player to watch out for on the bigger stage, against big oppositions.
Alice Capsey
17-year-old Alice Capsey was roped in by England for a series against South Africa just before heading into the Commonwealth Games. Alice Capsey has had a lot of high praises come from the team head coach and will look to stand up to the expectations. Alice Capsey rose to glory after performances in The Hundred and the domestic Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy where she’s repeatedly put up match-winning performances. Alice Capsey is a perfect player one would wish as she’s more than a part-time off-break bowler and strongly bats anywhere 1-11. At a young age, what this experienced domestic star could show on a global stage is exciting to wait and watch.
Eden Carson
20-year-old Eden Carson is named in New Zealand’s squad for the Games. The off-spinner is yet to make her debut for New Zealand, but her maiden call came directly for the Games on the back of strong domestic performances. In the Women’s Super Smash Eden bagged 17 wickets in 12 innings with a decent economy just below 6. In the New Zealand Cricket Women’s one-day competition in the final Edom Carson registered figures of 5/17 in her 10. Another exciting one to watch out for if she happens to make her crack into the XI.
