Aussie women start favourites again

After India play the first match against Bangladesh in Bengaluru, New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka in New Delhi. Australia women have won the last three tournaments in 2010, 2012 and 2014 after England clinched the inaugural event at home in 2009. But Australia, who won a record 16 T20 internationals in a row between March 2014 and August 2015, are coming off a nightmarish run in recent months that has seen Meg Lanning’s side lose four of its last six matches. 

Australia have been drawn alongside Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group A and the other group comprises Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and West Indies, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The women’s semi-finals on 30 and 31 March and the final on 3 April will be played in the lead up to the men’s matches on the same day and at the same venues. 

Lanning admitted it will not be easy for Australia to retain the title in what she said was the tightest women’s World T2o ever had. “Everyone starts on an even keel heading into the tournament. We’re out to win it just like every team is. Any number of teams can win it, it just comes down to who gets used to the conditions and plays well. 

It’s good for the women’s game that so many teams are in contention and whoever wins it will certainly play some great cricket,” she said. Only three sides – Australia, England and New Zealand – have appeared in an ICC Women’s World Twenty20 final, but the emergence of India and South Africa as serious contenders has spiced up the race. 

Mithali Raj’s India stunned Australia 2-1 Down Under in January, while South Africa claimed its first-ever T20 win over England last month. England will once again be captained by veteran batter Charlotte Edwards, who also led the side in the four previous editions, winning the title in 2009 and ending runners-up to Australia in 2012 and 2014. 

“I wouldn’t still be playing if I didn’t have that buzz and excitement about playing in a world event,” said the 36-year-old Edwards, now in her 20th year in international cricket. England go into the tournament fresh from a 2-1 series win in South Africa, during which Sarah Taylor became only the second woman after her captain to reach the 2,000-run landmark in T20Is.