Women’s T20 World Cup: Beth Money, Sophie Ecclestone and Shafali Verma lead galaxy of stars
From Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr and Shafali Verma, teenagers threaten to rule at the women’s T20 World Cup. But don’t discount a bunch a steely veterans from making an impact.
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The women’s T20 World Cup has kickstarted many promising young careers.
And with a healthy representation of teenagers - headlined by Aussie Annabel Sutherland, India’s Shafali Verma and Kiwi Amelia Kerr - a new exciting young talent is likely to burst onto the scene over the two-week tournament in Australia, starting on February 21.
But youth is not the only currency, and there are plenty of experienced performers who will have a say in proceedings, too. Here are 10 players to keep an eye on.
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Annabel Sutherland
Australia unleashed an 18-year-old on an unsuspecting world back in 2009 who went onto dominate women’s cricket. That same player has now anointed a successor. Needless to say, Ellyse Perry is a big fan of Sutherland’s. She’s a wonderful athlete, she’s got a great build, she bowls fast and into the wicket and is able to swing it.” And then there’s her impressive batting. The only issue is likely to be game time.
Beth Mooney
That there have been questions about and attention on, but a notable lack of panic over, Alyssa Healy’s stuttering form going in to this tournament is in large part due to the enduring and reliable quality of her opening partner. The free-scoring 25-year-old had excellent in 2019, Australia’s leading runscorer with 1244 runs in all T20s. As well as leading Brisbane Heat to a second consecutive WBBL title, both with her runs and her level-headed captaincy.
Struck a classy unbeaten 71 in Australia’s tri-series final win over India and is a reliable source of runs for the hosts.
Sophie Devine
Seven of the Aussie squad pick her as the player who could have the biggest influence on the tournament. The veteran of almost 15 seasons of international T20s has never been in better form. She scored 54 not out, 61, 77 and career-best 105 in her last four matches in Cup warm-ups against South Africa. And throw in her WBBL form for Adelaide Strikers - which earned her player of the series honours - and Australia are probably glad they are in the other pool. Oh, and her medium pacers are a nice little string to her bow as well.
Amelia Kerr
Hard to believe she’s still only 19. The crafty leggie and hard-hitting batter played in a big part in Brisbane Heat’s WBBL title defence late last year and her ability to keep an end tight - as well as pick up a wicket or two - will be vital for the Kiwis. She holds the record for the highest ever ODI score with an unbeaten 232 against Ireland in 2018.
Shafali Verma
This dashing opener has just turned 16 and she’s already given the Aussies a glimpse of her destructive power in a recent game in Canberra when she scored 49 off just 28 balls. Her partnership with 23-year-old Smriti Mandhana, who hit 216 runs in the tri-nation series against the Aussies and England, at the top of the order will be crucial to India’s chances of building a big score.
Harmanpreet Kaur
T20 runs haven’t flowed for the India skipper in recent years but she remains the galvanising force of a side out to break its World Cup duck. A superstar in her own country, the now 30-year-old has failed to score a half-century in her last 16 matches, so she’s definitely due. Two years ago though she scored 663 runs at an average of 41.43, with a top score of 103 against the Kiwis.
Sophie Ecclestone
The 20-year left-arm spinner has only failed to take a wicket three times in her 30 T20 internationals, and has an economy rate to die for. Her arm ball to bowl Ellyse Perry in a tri-nations match was top notch. At 1.81m tall, Ecclestone can get plenty of bounce and the Poms haven’t been shy in using her in pressure situations at either the start or the end of an innings.
Heather Knight
England’s inspiration comes into the World Cup in fine form - 219 runs in her past five knocks - and she’ll need to be at the top of her game if the Poms are to make a noise in the tournament. She did show her class, and poise, in the recent Super Over tri-nations win over the Aussies and can also chip in with a few wickets where necessary.
Dane Van Niekerk
The South Africa captain has plenty riding on her shoulders with both bat and ball. A regular visitor to Australia for the WBBL, Van Diekerk is remarkably consistent with the bat, only failing twice in her last 26 knocks to get into double figures and averaging almost 30. Her bowling is more than useful as well. Ellyse Perry is certainly a fan, saying ‘she’s super talented, played a lot out here she’s pretty comfortable in the South African set up.’
Hayley Matthews
At age just 21, Matthews is preparing for her third T20 World Cup. Devastating at the top of the order at best, she played a huge part in the Windies’ unlikely success in 2016, scoring an impressive 66 off 45 balls against the Aussies in the final. Scored an unbeaten 107 against Ireland late last year - which included nine sixes.