World Cup finals: the complete guide

When and where is it?

Australia take on India on Thursday in Derby (7.30pm AEST), with the victors advancing to the final at Lord’s against hosts England on Sunday. The Aussies finished second overall in the group stages behind England and ahead of their semi-final opponents India. The final has been sold-out with more than 26,500 spectators expected to flock to Lord’s for the decider.

Australia’s history in the World Cup.

Australia is the most successful team of the Women’s World Cup, having claimed six titles since the inception of the tournament in 1973 – two years before the first edition of the Men’s World Cup. They are the current holders of the trophy after defeating the West Indies in the final four years ago, with Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Alex Blackwell and Megan Schutt the remaining members of the side that lifted the trophy in Mumbai.

Should Australia reach the final, they hold a 1-0 advantage when playing off for the trophy against England, having defeated the hosts in 1982 by three wickets, back when the tournament consisted of 60-over matches.

Who are the favourites?

Australia are the No.1 ranked ODI team, defending champions and haven’t lost an ODI series since mid-2013 so, needless to say, Meg Lanning’s team claim the title of tournament favourites. But if you’re thinking it’ll be a stroll for the Australians, think again. The competition between the top teams has been intense, with each of the remaining side’s suffering a loss throughout the group stages.

India came home strong and defeated New Zealand in a must-win clash to advance to the knockout stages after captain Mithali Raj questioned whether her side could "win the big matches". Each of their top-three batters have posted centuries so far in the tournament and both left-arm spinners have claimed five-wicket hauls.

England are the hosts and since their semi-final defeat in last year’s Women’s World T20 they have undergone a rejuvenation with a new skipper and a host of new faces, while their new, attacking brand of cricket will make them tough to beat.

The group stages offered little information on a standout side, with Australia defeating India, England defeating Australia and India defeating England.

Who are the players to keep an eye on?

Despite her ongoing shoulder injury, Meg Lanning has still posted 328 runs from her five knocks. Noticeably hampered and unable to throw over-arm during her side’s fielding innings throughout the campaign, her batting remarkably hasn’t been affected, averaging 109.33, including a match-winning innings of 152no against Sri Lanka.  She averages 42 and 59 against England and India respectively and will no doubt play a key role if passed fit to play.

England’s Nat Sciver looms as the player who can turn the match, having scored two centuries at better than a run a ball. Her 137 from 92 balls sent a message to the competition and obliterated Pakistan’s attack, followed just 15 days later by 129 from 111 balls to take apart New Zealand. On the opposite side of the spectrum, she has also produced five single-digit scores in her eight innings, a key wicket in the opposition’s assault on England.

If India are to topple the Australians and reach their second-ever World Cup final, they’ll need captain Mithali Raj to stand up. Having produced an unbeaten-91 in India’s only ever World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in 2005, she knows how to get it done with a final spot on the line. The leading-run-scorer in Women’s ODI cricket is also coming off a match-winning century against New Zealand after three half-centuries during the group stage, with a vast amount of experience playing against Australia.

An Ashes preview?

It's a little premature, but should Australia defeat India and reach the final against England, it will be the first of four ODI matches the sides will play against each other for the remainder of the year, with the Women’s Ashes to follow the World Cup in October. Three ODI’s will precede a day-night Test and three T20Is to determine the winners in the multi-format points system. Sunday’s Lord’s final could yet be a preamble for things to come, giving an early indication of a favourite heading into that series. Australia are the current holders of the trophy after reclaiming it on English soil in 2015. The tournament, and Australia's success so far, has seen a surge in interest in the women's game, and tickets for the Women's Ashes are expected to go on sale in August. An Australian Cricket Family pre-sale will again be in operation, just like the Men's Ashes, and remains the best way to get your tickets first. But before we can really think about the Ashes, Australia need to overcome India first.

How can I follow?

Cricket.com.au will keep you up to speed with all the latest news and highlights from the tournament. In terms of social media, we've also got you covered: follow @southernstars on Twitter for regular updates and highlights; like the Australian Women’s Cricket Team page on Facebook; follow @southernstars on Instagram for the very best images and for exclusive behind-the-scenes access via Instagram stories.

Where can I watch?

In Australia, the Nine Network will be providing free-to-air coverage through 9GO, and the match will also be broadcast on subscription service Foxtel. As it's an ICC run tournament, both broadcasters will be taking the same satellite feed.

ABC Grandstand will also be providing radio coverage, tune into abc.net.au/sport or via the ABC Radio app. 

What are the squads?

Australia: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Beth Langston, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Nat Sciver, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt. 

India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Punam Raut, Deepti Sharma, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Sushma Verma, Mansi Joshi, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Nuzhat Parveen, Smriti Mandhana

Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes schedule

October 22: First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane 

October 26: Second ODI, Coffs Intl Stadium, Coffs Harbour  

October 29: Third ODI, Coffs Intl Stadium, Coffs Harbour  

November 9-12: Day-night Test, North Sydney Oval, Sydney 

November 17: First T20I: North Sydney Oval, Sydney 

November 19: Second T20I: Manuka Oval, Canberra 

November 21: Third T20I: Manuka Oval, Canberra