With just days to go until the big competition here’s some information on the teams and how their squads shape up:

Australia

Australia last won the tournament in 2022 and have accumulated 7 trophies in the existence of the world cup. They are ranked first in women’s ODIs by a margin making them a powerhouse in women’s cricket. They are very consistent in ICC tournaments and have proved to be the team to beat in women’s cricket all over with their clean sweep in the women’s ashes earlier in the year

Captain Alyssa Healy has said the following leading up to the world cup: ‘I don’t think anyone has gone back to back for a while and there’s a lot of those sort of milestones that we’d love to achieve. Winning world cups is special; they’re the pinnacle of our sport. So, we know we’ve got to go there and play consistently.’

Australian squad: Alyssa Healy (C), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia Mcgrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

South Africa

The proteas women are going into this with one mission: to bring back the trophy. They are yet to reach an ODI world cup final but have high hopes going into this one. The team has played west indies in preparation for the world cup and have some young names from the u19 world cup that have been absorbed into the senior women’s squad who could make a big impact in this world cup.

The proteas are ranked 5th in women’s ODI and have skipper Laura Wolvaardt in the top 10 ODI batters and Marizanne Kapp in the top 10 all-rounders and bowlers list. With changes in management at the end of the 2024 T20 world cup Mandla Mashimbyi will be leading his first women’s world cup, he’s said the following going in: ‘we believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation.’

South African squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase.

Bangladesh

Ranked 7th in women’s ODI rankings, the Lady Tigers bring a flurry of young cricketers to this tournament. They have upstaged West Indies, Scotland and Ireland to qualify for this world cup, teams that have improved over the years.

Players like the skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, Ritu Moni, Sharmin Akhter and Rabeya Khan are names to keep an eye on in the world cup and have included two players from the u19 world cup played earlier this year. BCB chief selector said the following about the u19 star: ‘Sumaiya has been knocking on the door for some time. She brings the ability to occupy the crease and accelerate when needed. With her skill set and fielding standards, she gives us an all-round option in the top order.’

Bangladeshi squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Nishita Akter Nishi, Sumaiya Akter

England

Currently ranked 2nd in women’s ODIs England is big contender this world cup. notably having had a tough Ashes and a challenging bout in their India tour of the UK they cannot be written off in big tournaments. they are often phenomenal in ODIs and with players such Nat Sciver-Brunt who has shown she’s good with bat as well as Danni Wyatt Hodge. Ryana MacDonald-Gay is one of their players who performed well in the hundred and domestic competition and may finish the world cup amongst the top bowlers of the tournament.

Head coach Charlotte Edwards expressed her delight at the squad announcement, highlighting the prestige of representing the country in a World Cup and the challenge of competing in India. ‘Being selected to play for your country in a World Cup is one of the biggest honours in sport and I’m delighted for all the players named in the squad’ she said.

English squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

India

The women in blue and hosts India will be looking to get their hands on their first CWC trophy. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 home ODI matches making playing on home ground very advantages. Ranked 3rd in ODI they have built a squad with the top ranking batters and game changers in the middle order.

Big players during their tour of England were: captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma who will be crucial in India’s campaign this world cup

Indian squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

New Zealand

Ranked 4th in women’s ODIs the White Ferns are one of those teams who have quality all-rounders in their team. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine are two names I’ve heard a lot in women’s cricket and their performances on the field are testament to why they are considered two of the best cricketers in New Zealand. Kerr has held a top 5 rank as an allrounder in ODI and T20 rankings.

After their T20 world cup win, they’ll be looking to get this trophy in their cabinet. Coach Ben Sawyer has said: “I can honestly say that in the four world events I’ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we’ve ever been, having no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.”

New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu

Sri Lanka

Ranked 6th in women’s ODI this is one of the teams that can make the competition tough for everyone. Sri Lanka comes into this having played their last ODI against cohosts India and South Africa in may beating each of the teams during the tri series.

skipper Chamari Athapathuthu spoke highly of Sri Lankas’s brand of cricket following the series. ‘Actually, we are playing positive cricket in the last game and today. I am happy as a captain, youngsters are playing their best cricket. We are ready to bat first too. We will try to score 250+ when we are put in to bat.’

Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva are proven game changers for Sri Lanka and will look to lead their team into the finals coupled with their youth and experienced players

Sri Lankan squad: Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya.

Pakistan

A clean sweep in qualifiers see’s Pakistan in this world cup. Ranked 8th in ODI they are another team who have shown their growth in women’s cricket. Captain Fatima Sana took 12 wickets in the qualifiers edging them into the tournament. Batters such as Muneeba Ali was a star during the qualifier and will be monumental in Pakistan’s campaign. Their bowling attack includes Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal who were top achievers during the qualifiers.

Sana said the following leading up to the ODI series against South Africa: ‘Everyone knows Pakistan rely on their bowling attack, so this time our focus will be on getting more support from the batting unit as well. We worked a lot on batting during the camp’

Pakistani squad: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vc), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah.

Now i know those are big squads and big names but every team comes with something special and will be exciting to watch.

Who has got your vote this world cup?

xx Thando