10 teams. One dream. One Trophy. One Championship. The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018, Windies. Battling in the shortest format of the game to emerge out as champions among the world’s best. Surely experience, grit, dedication, hard work and talent are crucial elements to be the best. But what comes as a surprise often tickles the opposition and can prove to be one’s nation’s greatest asset not just for the World Cups but for all the upcoming campaigns.
Along with some great experience, there are some new guns all set and geared up for the ultimate moment they all have been waiting for – The National Call. Honored in the national jersey and proudly singing the national anthem in front of the national flag. The ultimate dream everyone waits for. And debuting at such a level and in the most crucial tournament of women’s cricket, here are the budding stars bracing up to shine bright for their nation- for the first time.
1) INDIA
India with the likes of some of the most influential and specialist players in women’s cricket would be starting their world twenty20 campaign in the West Indies against New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament. Loaded with experience in every department and also winning the series against the Sri Lanka women recently, this team is high on confidence and self belief. But obviously, the conditions in the Windies would be really different adding the responsibility, the challenges and competition and the pressure of a huge ICC tournament. But with the mix of experience and some new talent, the Indian Cricket Team is surely one to look out for. The only debutant will be Dayalan Hemalatha.
Dayalan Hemalatha:
Coming from the city of Madras, this 24 year old right handed batsman is all set to make her T20I debut in the huge ICC Women’s World Twenty20 against the best. She made her ODI debut against the Sri Lanka women in 2018 and had scored at an average of 20.50 and with a strike rate of 110.81. This strike rate gives a glimpse of how dangerous she could get once set in the shortest format of the game. Where the strike rate matters a lot and not just the number of runs scored, Hemalatha is a sure shot player to watch out for. Also being a right handed off break bowler, she can come as a surprise in tricky situations and can spin things around for the team.
TEAM INDIA SQUAD FOR WWT20 2018:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Tanya Bhatia, Ekta Bisht, Dayalan Hemalatha, Mansi Joshi, Veda Krishnamurthy, Smriti Mandhana, Anuja Patil, Mithali Raj, Arundathi Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav.
2) AUSTRALIA
Striking a balance in every department and reflecting success every time they walk out on the ground is what the Aussies have been doing. A fitness motivation, inspiration for millions of cricket fans and the team that reflects what has been achieved through sheer hard work. Having some of the most talented and best names in the game, they are certainly one of the toughest teams competing for the title. The Aussies will be beginning their campaign on 9th November against Pakistan. With the likes of some of the greatest in the game, a young ace pacer is all set to make her debut for Australia- Tayla Vlaeminck.
Tayla Vlaeminck:
Rising from two knee reconstructions and a dislocated shoulder comes this young 20 year old medium pacer bracing up to make her T20 international debut in the biggest tournament of women’s cricket and the most challenging one as well. This right arm medium ace pacer carries all the ability of taking early wickets and putting the opposition to test by some key striking at the crucial points. This format of the game is loaded with surprises and bowlers like Tayla can bring it all for the teams. With an ODI bowling economy of 5.44 she sure is the one bowler the batters will watch out for. Tayla is also a part of the Melbourne Renegades squad which has made her quite familiar with the format of the game.
TEAM AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR WWT20 2018:
Meg Lanning (captain), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Alyssa Starc, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.
3) ENGLAND
Coming from the nation where cricket originated, the English women are all set to fire in the arduous conditions in the West Indies at the highest level and one big tournament of women’s cricket. Balancing perfectly between experience and new talent and spirit, this team is all braced up for all the new challenges coming their way and becoming a challenge themselves for the other nine teams battling out for the ultimate cup, the World Cup. The England women’s cricket team has named three debutants for their world cup campaign- Sophia Dunkley, Linsey Smith and Kirstie Gordon.
Sophia Dunkley:
The surrey stars sensation, who stood out in the 2018 edition of the Kia Super League, smashing 66 from 43 balls batting at No.6 becoming the first non-international half centurion as the KSL. And scoring these crucial runs when the team needed it the most, Dunkley shows why she is so good when the team needs her the most. Calm and composed under pressure not even taking pressure as it is. The T20 format asks for someone who can score quickly and turn the situation around for their team. And at the world cup stage where pressure is the highest, Dunkley is sure someone crucial for the team. The 20 year old right handed batter and legbreak bowler is surely someone to watch out for this season.
Linsey Smith:
Linsey Claire Neale Smith, the 23 year old left arm batter and left arm slow bowler is all set to make her T20I debut for England in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Twenty20 championship. She has played for the Rubies at the domestic level is now all set to take on the best in the game. Left arm players are always a little tricky and add a lot to the team as the opposition has to keep changing their strategies and have to play the right and left handed players differently. This is one crucial reason why Smith is the one to look out for.
Kirstie Gordon:
The Scottish player who has played for the Scotland women’s national cricket team in the 2017 women’s world cup qualifier and emerged as the highest wicket taker for Scotland with 8 dismissals was named in the England women’s cricket team for the WWT20 2018. Kirstie is a right hand batter and a left arm orthodox bowler who knows quite well how to spin webs for the batsmen. This 21 year old is all set to play for the English women and make it count.
TEAM ENGLAND FOR WWT20 2018:
Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon, Jenny Gunn, Danni Hazell, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Linsey Smith, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.
4) IRELAND
Emerging as one of the great competitors in women’s cricket and reaching new levels in the game by constantly working on the levels by playing against the best, striving to become the best. This Irish women’s cricket team is sure to give some tough competition to all the teams battling out there. With a mix of experience and young talent, Ireland is all geared up and ready to enter the campaign. They will be starting off on 11th November against the Aussies. Introducing Celeste Raack and Rebecca Stokell in their world cup campaign.
Celeste Raack:
It is great to be good in one area but it is the best when one is great in all the areas and so is this All-Rounder, Celeste Raack an Australian cricketer with an Irish passport who is now going to make her mark for the Irish women in the crucial World cup. This right handed batsman and right arm leg break bowler is all set to strengthen the team even more in each department with her all round skills. She has played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the women’s big bash league and has emerged as one of the best all rounders for her side. She has also represented the New South Wales in the various national tournaments and has registered some great numbers which makes her one player definitely to watch out for.
Rebecca Stokell:
Born in Dublin, Ireland this 18 year old young gun made her ODI debut against South Africa in the year 2017 and was further named in Ireland’s squad for the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier and further named in the squad for the ultimate tournament. Stokell is an opener and strikes at 57.89. She holds the ability to hit the ball out of the park and also is good with playing the new ball which makes her a deserving player as well a well suited one for this format of the game.
TEAM IRELAND FOR WWT20 2018:
Laura Delany (captain), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Amy Kenealy, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Lucy O’Reilly, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.
OTHER SQUADS:
Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Khadiza Tul Kubra, Lata Mondol, Nahida Akter, Nigar Sultana Joty, Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Rumana Ahmed, , Sanjida Islam, Shamima Sultana, Sharmin Akhter Supta.
New Zealand: Amy Satterthwaite (captain) Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Sophie Devine, Kate Ebrahim, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Jessica Watkin.
Pakistan: Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz.
South Africa: Dane Van Niekerk (captain), Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Eshani Lokusooriya, Dilani Manodara, Yashoda Mendis, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodani, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardena, Rebeka Vandort, Sripali Weearakkody.
West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha Mclean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman.
Fixtures for the T20 Women’s World Cup:
Below mentioned timings are as per Indian Standard Time
Nov 9: India Women vs. New Zealand Women (Guyana) 11 AM
Nov 9: Pakistan Women vs. Australia Women (Guyana) 4 PM
Nov 9: West Indies Women vs. Qualifier 1 (Guyana) 8 PM
Nov 10: England Women vs. Sri Lanka Women (ST Lucia) 4 PM
Nov 11: Australia Women vs. Qualifier 2 (Guyana) 4 PM
Nov 11; India Women vs. Pakistan Women (Guyana) 11 AM
Nov 12; England Women vs. Qualifier 1 (ST Lucia) 4 PM
Nov 12: Sri Lanka Women Vs. South Africa Women (ST Lucia) 8 PM
Nov 13: Pakistan Women vs. Qualifier 2 (Guyana) 4 PM
Nov 13– Australia Women vs. New Zealand Women (Guyana) 8 PM
Nov 14: Sri Lanka Women vs. Qualifier 1 (ST Lucia) 4 PM
Nov 14: West Indies Women vs. South Africa Women (ST Lucia) 8 PM
Nov 15: Pakistan Women vs. New Zealand Women (Guyana) 4 PM
Nov 15: India Women vs. Qualifier 2 (Guyana) 11 AM
Nov 16: South Africa Women vs. England Women (ST Lucia) 4 PM
Nov 16: Sri Lanka Women vs. West Indies Women (ST Lucia) 8 PM
Nov 17: Qualifier 2 vs. New Zealand Women (Guyana) 4 PM
Nov 17: India Women vs. Australia Women (Guyana) 11 AM
Nov 18: South Africa Women vs. Qualifier 1 (ST Lucia) 8 PM
Nov 18: West Indies Women vs. England Women (ST Lucia) 4 PM
Nov 22: Semifinals 1 (Antigua)
Nov 22: Semifinals 2 (Antigua)
Nov 24: Finals (Antigua)
Squad Analysis:
Australian Women’s Cricket Squad Analysis for T20 World Cup 2018
New Zealand Women’s Cricket Squad Analysis for T20 World Cup 2018
West Indies Women’s Cricket Squad Analysis for T20 World Cup 2018
England’s T20 World Cup 2018 Squad Analysis
Squad Analysis and Road to the T20 World Cup for Indian women’s cricket team
Squad:
Sri lanka name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
West Indies name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
South Africa name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
Pakistan name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
New Zealand name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
Ireland name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
India name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
Bangladesh name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
Australia name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
England name their T20 Squad for upcoming Women’s World Cup 2018
Fixtures:
ICC Women’s World T20 2018 schedule announced
Officiating Squad
Officiating team of Women’s T20 World Cup 2018 Announced
The 22 Yard stretch that molded me, is what I hold sacred. A cricketer weaving life’s innings into words. A Rohit Sharma Admirer always. I believe writing and cricket aren’t passions, but ways of life, so truly living the dream!
