Sophie Devine
Source: Stuff.co.nz
Arguably, the most exciting talent in all of the White Ferns, together with Suzie Bates, a pro of the game, the New Zeland captain accounts for well over 5,000 T20 runs and 131 wickets.
That Sophie Devine’s recent outings against the Proteas women that yielded knocks of- 105, 77, 61, and an unbeaten 54- speaks volumes about the kind of form the right-hander has been in.
If there’s one batswoman you want to get out quickly when facing the White Ferns then it’s Wellington’s fiercest, who’s thus far, accumulated over 2,200 T20 runs.
That Devine, who had a stellar season in the 2019 WBBL, has plenty of experience contesting Down Under would add further steel to her glowing T20 resume. Looks like there could be rainfall of runs ahead!
Lizelle Lee
Source: The South African
66 matches, 1483 runs, SR of 103.
The ball travels far and wide when it meets the middle of Lizelle Lee’s bat. And it’s something that happens on most occasions when one of the most disruptive batswomen around contests in a game.
South Africa suddenly seem the most invincible side when Lee- the hardest hitter in the eleven, alongside Tryon- gets going.
With plenty of runs under her belt in T20s in 2019, Lizelle Lee will look to overcome the disappointing T20 turnout versus the Kiwis by straight away garnering runs in the customary free-flowing manner she often does.
She’ll undoubtedly be one of the key players to watch in Women’s World T20.
Salma Khatun
Source: Daily Sun
72 matches, 61 wickets, eco of 4.7
Salma is to her Bangladesh what Stafanie Taylor or Meg Lanning are to the West Indies and Australia, respectively.
An off-spin specialist of the highest decree, Salma’s strength stems from the ability to keep the scoring rates under check and to make the ball speak things cricketers don’t expect on the dampest of surfaces.
An experienced hand, and a cool one at that, if Bangladesh- who stunned India in the 2018 Asia Cup- are to go to the business end of the series, a lot will rest on the trio Jahanara Alam, Salma Khatun, and Rumana Ahmed.
Chamari Atapattu
Source: Biography Portal
81 matches, 1492 runs, 1 century, 1 fifty.
No other Sri Lankan batter hits it as far and as cleanly as Atapattu, someone who for her prowess and experience, is rightly the Sri Lankan skipper in the all-important series.,
What’s interesting about the belligerent left-hander is that it doesn’t impact her batting one bit regardless of whether she’s up against the most top-quality opposition or a newbie. A mark of the modern-day great, maybe?
But Atapattu, who’s scored heaps of runs both in the sub-continent and overseas, would really want to lead by example just the way she has in the past few editions of the series.
Yet at the same time, for Sri Lanka’s own good, the likes of Oshadi Ranasinghe and Harshitha Madavi, one would reckon, will have to come good.
And there’s little doubt to that end especially since the likes of Madavi, (who’s played Down Under, albeit in a disappointing turnout for her side in 2019), have scored vital runs as seen in low scoring turnouts against the Aussies in the last year.
Moreover, Atapattu will hope that someone like a Madavi- who had an outstanding season with the bat in the 2019 South Asian games scoring 187 runs at 62- comes good for the island nation.
Poonam Yadav
Source: She The People
62 matches, 85 wickets, eco of 5.6, 2 four-for’.
If there’s an underrated spinner anywhere in the game- one who perhaps doesn’t get the attention that flocks so easily with other saleable stars like Harman and Mandhana- then it’s Poonam Yadav.
Not only does the ace spinner turn the ball audaciously but surprises her opponents with the flight and the right length; ingredients that separate Poonam from the rest of the talents around the world.
Someone who’s played a fair deal against all quality sides, India will rest on their most ardent exponent of spin to fetch the goods on this tour.
Javeria Khan
Source: ANI News
97 matches, 1744 runs, 8 fifties, SR of 92.
The current unit is a young and new Pakistan. But what makes the side a daring opposition is the presence of perhaps one of the finest albeit understated batswoman in the game today.
A mercurial batswoman, a fighter who can both grind the opposition with her quintessential composure and wear them down further by holding onto an end, it’s undoubtedly important for Javeria to produce the runs for her side to remain float in the mega-series.
While there are tons of runs on her resume that indicate Khan can do that. But what Pakistan need to ensure is the identification of another force – say someone like Bismah- who can help navigate the side up ahead.
Marizanne Kapp
Source: KyroSports (sourced from The Cricketer)
75 matches, 857 runs, 56 wickets, eco 5.3.
A great of the modern game, Kapp, who’s been around for over a decade in T20 cricket – is a star who contributes with both bat and ball and remains steadily aloof from indulging in shenanigans and lip service, preferring instead to focus quietly on her craft.
Already an inspiration in the game and a giant force that can shake up best batting attacks and club bowlers on any given day, if South Africa are to travel far in the tournament, “Kappie”- who claimed a WBBL hat-trick just months back in Australia – will be rearing to go.
Annabel Sutherland
Source: Fox Sports
It’s something to be talented but something quite other to be recognized for your craft by none other than the greats of your own side. So when Ellyse Perry rated Sutherland as the “one to watch out for” and didn’t stop there, as she’d express “probably the most talented we’ve produced thus far,” you understood that Annabel Sutherland- who’s not yet reached 19- is a far cry from the usual talents in the game.
A handy batter in the middle order and an exceptional medium pacer, Sutherland, who’s just played 3 T20s in a career that’s only just begun will lend further competitiveness and typical Aussie steely resolve to a pace attack that already boasts of greats like Perry and Schutt.
Can Annabel promise some destruction in the much-anticipated series ahead?
Chanida Sutthiruang
Source: The Cricketer
35 matches, 42 wickets, 1 four-for, eco of 3.4.
Thailand’s go-to medium pacer, Sutthiruang was recognized by the ICC as the emerging player, Women’s cricket in 2019, just the sort of achievement that would’ve lifted the spirit of an enterprising Asian side whose time, many would think, has finally come with their World T20 participation.
The odds with Sutthiruang are pretty simple. If she clips early wickets, denting a hole in the batting line up, Thailand’s game goes on the front foot. It’s just the kind of effort that the team would expect of their right-handed medium-pacer in the upcoming games.
The only question is how would a young fairly inexperienced side- who’s rubbing shoulders with teams of the highest repute in cricket’s grandest stage- cope with the nerves and the pressure of expectation?
Mignon du Preez
95 matches, 1666 runs, 7 fifties, SR of 100.
To a game that longs for things that are bright and sunny, few things can be as important as Mignon du Preez’s grace and humility.
The batting mainstay of the strong Protean middle-order, Mignon, who was often called upon to up her scoring rate in the shortest format has done just that, having touched the 100 mark in less than 12 months, working upon the 95 we were accustomed at seeing.
Observing big sixes darted from the meat of the bat are normal days in the office for South Africa’s most experienced batswoman, someone who has the rare distinction of featuring in all Women’s World T20 editions.
If the Proteas are to go the long way in the mega-series, then Du Preez will have to hold the fort and score lots of runs, something all who’ve witnessed her class all these years would expect.
Jess Jonassen
Source: ABC.com.au
73 matches, 59 wickets, eco of 5.3, 1 fifer
If India have Poonam Yadav, New Zealand Leigh Kasperek, and England Sophie Ecclestone then it won’t be wrong to say that in Jonassen- Australia have a sweltering challenger who can both twerk and put the lid on scoring.
A miserly spinner, you can simply say Jonassen dreads conceding runs, a sufficient evidence of which can be gathered from her surreal economy especially in a format that’s anything but for the bowlers.
In the recently concluded Tri-series, Jonassen didn’t leave it to the likes of Schutt or Perry to destruct Australia’s opponents as she cleaned up India’s middle and lower order in taking her priceless fifer, the first of a career that’s got many more miles to cover.
It’s just the sort of form Lanning would expect from her ace spinner in the mega event up ahead.
Deandra Dottin
Source: EspnCricinfo
110 matches, 2368, 2 hundreds, 10 centuries.
A 38-ball century versus South Africa in World T20, 2010- which remains the fastest T20 century by any cricketer male or female to this day- came nearly 12 months following a sensational 22-ball-fifty versus Australia in the World T20, 2009.
These are feats that are longed by many but attained only by a select few. Dottin is the Chris Gayle of the women’s game. Her fierce batting and the ability to clinch Wickets when most needed make her a standout Caribbean star.
Can the Windies batter- who’s just emerged from a long layoff – contribute immediately as there won’t be much time to settle down in a cricketing fest where everything matters – is the big question fans would have of the Barbadian?
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