All you need to know ahead of Australia's World Cup semi

What's the schedule?

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Australia v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 9am AEDT

Mar 31: South Africa v England, Hagley Park, Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEST

How can I watch?

Foxtel and Kayo Sports are the only places to watch the World Cup in Australia. The subscription services will broadcast every one of the tournament's matches exclusively and, in good news for fans, they will be available to watch free of charge via Kayo Freebies. You can sign-up for Kayo here, starting with a 14-day free trial.

Will there be crowds?

In great news for local fans, New Zealand dropped its capacity limits for outdoor events last week, so the World Cup finals can be sold at 100 per cent capacity, up from what had been a 20 per cent cap. Sadly for fans outside of New Zealand, the country's borders remain closed to tourists, with the recently announced re-opening to Australians not taking place until April 12.

What if it rains?

Fortunately, there are reserve days for both semi-finals and the final, so England hopefully need not fear a repeat of their 2020 T20 World Cup semi-final exit. If, however, a match cannot be completed on the reserve day, the top-ranked qualifier (Australia or South Africa) will progress.

The rules of this ICC tournament require 20 overs per side for a completed match.

Dare I ask… what happens if it's a tie?

If a semi-final or final is tied, the teams shall compete in a Super Over. And if the Super Over is a tie, subsequent Super Overs will be played until a winner is determined. No more boundary countbacks! If weather conditions or other circumstances prevent the Super Over from being completed on the scheduled day or reserve day, the teams will be declared joint winners.

Semi-final 1: Australia v West Indies

March 30 Basin Reserve, Wellington, 9am AEDT

Likely teams

Australia have already ruled out superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry for the semi-final, with the 31-year-old failing to recover from back spasms in time. The bowling will be boosted by the inclusion of Darcie Brown, who missed the round-robin stage against the West Indies when Perry claimed 3-22, with all her wickets coming inside the Powerplay, while young pace bowling allrounder Annabel Sutherland is likely to retain her spot in the XI.

The late breaking news for West Indies was the revelation on Tuesday evening that spinner Afy Fletcher had tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the match, replaced in the squad by Mandy Mangru. The Windies will hope nobody else wakes with symptoms on Wednesday morning, with the news the last thing they wanted on the eve of a knockout game.  

Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

West Indies: Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Rashada Williams, Stafanie Taylor (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell

Last time they met

West Indies 131 (Taylor 50, Campbelle 20; Perry 3-22) lost to Australia 3-132 (Haynes 83*, Mooney 28*; Henry 1-20) by seven wickets in 30.2 overs at the Basin Reserve, Wellington

ICC ODI Rankings

Australia: 1st; West Indies: 7th 

Overall record

Played 14 | Australia 13 | West Indies 1

Best World Cup result

Australia: Champions (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013)

West Indies: Runners-up (2013)

Road to the semi-finals

Australia's form line (most recent first): WWWWWWW

Australia advanced through the round-robin stage unbeaten  but were forced to dig deep at various stages. They held off a fast-finishing England in their opening game in Hamilton, and while wins over Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies were ultimately routine, Australia had to pull off the (then) two biggest chases in tournament history to beat India and South Africa. They were in all sorts of trouble at 5-70 against Bangladesh before Beth Mooney steered them home.

West Indies' form line (most recent first): NRLWLLWW

West Indies had a dream start to the tournament, with Hayley Matthews' century and Deandra Dottin's brilliant death over securing a win over New Zealand, which they backed up with a thrilling seven-run victory against England. Heavy defeats to India and Australia followed, before they edged home against Bangladesh. A loss to Pakistan had their campaign on the line, but a single point taken from a washout against South Africa was enough to get them through.

In-form players

Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes and Beth Mooney have all been in sparkling form, while Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner have also produced the goods with the bat when required at this tournament.

Australia have not had consistently dominant performances with the ball but Darcie Brown has done some serious damage in her limited opportunities, and spinners Jess Jonassen, Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner have point their hands up at various points.

Hayley Matthews is leading the way for the Windies both at the top of the order and with her skilled off-spin, and she has the potential to cause major headaches for Australia in both facets of the game. Wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle has played some crucial hands in the middle-order at this tournament.

So how do they stack up?

Recent results and history all look significantly stacked in Australia's favour, but they have been in this position against West Indies once before: the 2016 T20 World Cup final. Then, the Windies showed history counted for nothing as they pulled off an upset win to become world champions. It’s one of only two times West Indies have defeated Australia in any format, but the memories will be strong on both sides, with many players from that 2016 final part of this event.

Semi-final 2: South Africa v England

March 31 Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Likely teams

South Africa: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (c), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas

England: Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Kate Cross, Anya Shrubsole

Last time they met

England 9-235 (Beaumont 62, Jones 53; Kapp 5-45) lost to South Africa 7-236 (Wolvaardt 77, Luus 36; Shrubsole 2-34) by three wickets in 49.2 overs at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

ICC ODI Rankings

South Africa: 2nd; England: 3rd 

Overall record

Played 39 | England 29 | South Africa 9 | No result 1

Best World Cup result

South Africa: Semi-finalist (2000, 2017)

England: Champions: (1973, 1993, 2009, 2017)

Road to the semi-finals

South Africa's form line (most recent first): WNRLWWWW

South Africa scrapped their way through their first four wins of the tournament, including three consecutive final-over thrillers against Pakistan, England and New Zealand. Their only loss of the group stage was a five-wicket defeat to Australia, followed by a washout against West Indies and culminating in their remarkable win that ended India's tournament, setting up a replay of the 2017 semi-final against England in the process.

England's form line (most recent first): WWWWLLL

England, meanwhile, found themselves staring down the barrel of an early exit after defeats to Australia, West Indies and South Africa. Needing to win four on the trot to advance, they hit back with a thumping victory over India, then edged home by just one wicket against New Zealand, before sealing their spot in the semis with convincing wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In-form players

A first World Cup century continues to elude Laura Wolvaardt but she has been incredibly consistent, passing fifty in all but one of her innings at this tournament so far. She has formed key partnerships with skipper Sune Luus which has helped paper over some lacklustre form from Lizelle Lee and confusion around which of Lara Goodall or Tazmin Brits should bat at No.3, and offered a buffer to the middle-order where Mignon du Preez had struggled for runs prior to her half-century against India.

Marizanne Kapp has been doing it all with bat and ball, steering the Proteas home in nervy chases against England and New Zealand, while forming a potent new-ball pair with Shabnim Ismail.

Sophie Ecclestone is the world's top-ranked white-ball bowler and the left-arm spinner has been showing why at this tournament, sitting three clear on top of the wickets table. Aside from a poor start against Australia, Ecclestone has looked a class above, even when England did not get over the line. Off-spinner Charlie Dean originally was not included in England's XI but has made a significant impact since being introduced.

Natalie Sciver has been leading the way with the bat with stars Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight not producing their usual weights of runs thus far, but has made a habit of getting out with victory in sight and leaving it to the tail to get England home, something she will not want to do in a final.

So how do they stack up?

England have historically had the better of South Africa, but the Proteas have come a long way since their heartbreaking semi-final loss five years ago. They are in better form and full of confidence but have never won a World Cup semi-final – an area where England's experienced group has a lot of experience, which counts for a lot in the pressure of a knockout game.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets

Mar 19: Beat India by six wickets

Mar 22: Beat South Africa by five wickets

Mar 25: Beat Bangladesh by five wickets

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Australia v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 9am AEDT

Mar 31: South Africa v England, Hagley Park, Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEST

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports