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Women's World Cup: All You Need to Know

The what, where, when and full squads as one of cricket's major global events prepares to get underway

What is it?

The ICC Women’s World Cup is a quadrennial 50-over tournament between the top eight ODI nations. The first tournament was held in 1973 in England – two years before the first men’s World Cup. Of the 10 tournaments to date, Australia have won an incredible six titles, with England (3) and New Zealand (1) the other winners.


When and where is it?

It’s in the United Kingdom, with matches to be played in Leicester, Derby, Taunton, Bristol and at Lord’s. It all begins on Saturday when hosts England take on India in Derby, and New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in Bristol (both at 7.30pm AEST). Australia begin their campaign two days later against West Indies on Monday in Taunton. The round robin games continue until July 15, before semi-finals in Bristol (July 18) and Derby (July 20). The final will be played at Lord’s on July 23. All games start at 7.30pm AEST.

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What’s the format and who’s involved? 

All eight teams play each other once throughout the round robin stage, with the top four teams to advance to the finals. The top four teams from the ICC Women’s Championship – Australia, England, New Zealand and West Indies – were the first to qualify, while India, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka claimed spots during the Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Sri Lanka in February.

Who are the favourites?

Australia are the No.1 ranked ODI team and 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, while the introduction of the ICC Women’s Championship is rapidly closing the gap with the lower-ranked teams. 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. New Zealand boast a very strong squad with some of the biggest names in world cricket and will be confident of a strong showing, while West Indies are still brimming with confidence since their breakthrough World T20 title last year. India and South Africa have shown they are more than competitive with the top sides in recent years and would fancy their chances of knocking a top-four team out of finals contention.

Who are the players to keep an eye on?

Australia boast the No.1 ranked ODI batter in skipper Lanning, while allrounder Ellyse Perry is a force with both bat and ball, while their teammates are tipping openers Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney to dominate. England are led by captain Heather Knight who is a threat with the bat and with her off-spin, but it’s the new-ball pace pair of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole who will be crucial for the hosts. Be sure to keep an eye on ‘keeper Sarah Taylor, who has returned to the game after a year out battling anxiety. Among the Kiwis, big-hitting allrounder Sophie Devine is back after a broken thumb, while quick Lea Tahuhu has been in red-hot form and 16-year-old leg-spinner Amelia Kerr will likely be a handful for opposition batters. The West Indies will be led by the world’s top-ranked allrounder Stafanie Taylor, with a cast of powerful allrounders including Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin. South Africa boast the world’s current best ODI bowler in Marizanne Kapp, India’s Big Bash stars Smiriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur will be in action, while Pakistan captain Sana Mir and Sri Lanka skipper Inoka Ranaweera provide experience.

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, Fox Sports and the Nine Network will be providing coverage.

Fox Sports are showing all 10 broadcast matches – seven group matches and all three finals - and will also be showing Australia’s five live stream matches, in addition to their two broadcast games, on the same channel. All 31 World Cup matches will be live streamed at foxsports.com.au and the Fox Sports app.

For those without access to Fox Sports, Australia’s seven group matches can be live streamed free-to-air on Nine’s 9Now.

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

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

Fixtures: 26 June v West Indies, 29 June v Sri Lanka, July 2 v New Zealand, July 5 v Pakistan, 9 July v England, 12 July v India, 15 July v South Africa

England

Squad: 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. 

Fixtures: 24 June v India, 27 June v Pakistan, 2 July v Sri Lanka, 5 July v South Africa, 9 July v Australia, 12 July v New Zealand, 15 July v West Indies

India  


Quick single: Full India preview

Squad: 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

Fixtures: June 24 v England, June 29 v West Indies, July 2 v Pakistan, 5 July v Sri Lanka, 8 July v South Africa, 12 July v Australia, 15 July v New Zealand. 

New Zealand


Quick Single: Full White Ferns preview

Squad: Suzie Bates (c), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu.

Fixtures: June 24 v Sri Lanka, June 28 v South Africa, July 2 v Australia, July 6 v West Indies, July 8 v Pakistan, July 12 v England, July 15 v India

Pakistan


Quick Single: Full Pakistan preview

Squad: Sana Mir (c), Ayesha Zafar, Nahida Khan, Marina Iqbal, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Sidra Nawaz, Kainat Imtiaz, Asmavia Iqbal Khokhar, Diana Baig, Waheeda Akhtar, Nashra Sandhu, Ghulam Fatima, Sadia Yousuf

Fixtures: June 25 v South Africa, June 27 v England, July 2 v India, July 5 v Australia, July 8 v New Zealand, July 11 v West Indies, July 15 v Sri Lanka.

South Africa


Quick Single: Full South Africa preview

Squad: Dane van Niekerk (c), Trisha Chetty, Moseline Daniels, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Shabnim Ismail, Nadine de Klerk, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Raisibe Ntozhake, Mignon du Preez, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolfvaardt.

Fixtures: June 25 v Pakistan, June 28 v New Zealand, July 2 v West Indies, 5 July v England, 8 July v India, 12 July v Sri Lanka, July 15 v Australia

Sri Lanka


Quick Single: Full Sri Lanka preview

Squad: Inoka Ranaweera (c), Chamari Athapaththu, Chandima Gunaratne, Nipuni Hansika, Ama Kanchana, Eshani Lokusooriya, Harshitha Madhavi, Dilani Manodara, Hasini Perera, Chamari Polgampala, Udeshika Prabodani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardena, Prasadani Weerakodi, Sripali Weerakkody.

Fixtures: June 24 v New Zealand, June 29 v Australia, July 2 v England, 5 July v India, July 9 v West Indies, July 12 v South Africa, July 15 v Pakistan

West Indies


Quick Single: Full West Indies preview

Squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Merissa Aguilleira, Reniece Boyce, Shamilia Connell, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Qiana Joseph, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Akeira Peters, Shakera Selman, Felicia Walters

Fixtures: June 26 v Australia, June 29 v India, July 2 v South Africa, July 6 v New Zealand, July 9 v Sri Lanka, July 11 v Pakistan, July 15 v England


Australia's World Cup schedule


June 26: Australia v West Indies, Taunton


June 29: Australia v Sri Lanka, Bristol


July 2: Australia v New Zealand, Bristol


July 5: Australia v Pakistan, Leicester


July 9: Australia v England, Bristol


July 12: Australia v India, Bristol


July 15: Australia v South Africa, Taunton


July 18: First semi-final, Bristol


July 20: Second semi-final, Derby


July 23: Final, Lord's


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: First T20I: Manuka Oval, Canberra


November 21: First T20I: Manuka Oval, Canberra