5 batswomen to watch out for in the ICC Women’s World T20

T20 is a game of speed, power, quick reflexes, smart and fast decisions where a minute error in the judgement could turn the match around. High octane tournament like World T20 brings a lot to offer to cricket fraternity and its shareholders. Cricketing bodies are facing a serious dilemma to pick up the best possible combination to represent the nation at the global event. International Cricket Council is leaving no stone unturned under its eyes and have been busy giving maximum International exposure to the Women’s Cricket. The third Global event in the last three years have kept all the cricketing nations on its toes. Considering this is the right time and opportunity to streamline the game in existing nations as well as among the potential countries where cricket could be seen as the professional sport, especially for the women.

Women’s World T20, where 10 nations would be battling for the glory is just a couple of weeks away. The host West-Indies will once again be crowd’s favourite to lift the cup as they did in the last edition in India.

There will certainly be a few batswomen of the highest quality on show at the greatest stage of cricket, who are most likely to watch out for the ICC Women’s World T20:

(Note: Batswomen selected in the list have played a minimum 70-T20 Internationals)

Danielle Wyatt slashes the ball towards the off-side

#5 Danielle Wyatt, England

27-years old, Stoke-On-Trent born Danielle Wyatt has been a common name in the shortest format of the game for England. Her power hitting abilities differentiate her from the contemporary batswomen.

Wyatt carries a healthy strike rate of 127.10 in 88 T20Is. In 2018, she has been at the top of her form scoring 337 runs off 10 matches with the highest score of 124 (seldom to find in T20Is) at an astonishing strike rate of 162.80.

Off the ground, she had once expressed her wish to marry Virat Kohli. Her tweet went viral and spread like fire in the woods. Now, she is known to as many Indians as Britishers.

With the two T20I hundreds under her belt and experience of over 8-years in the international circuit, Danielle has the power to carry England on her shoulders in the upcoming world cup. Or if, she adds another hundred to her tally shouldn’t be a shocker for the cricket community.

Stafanie Taylor has been an asset to the west-indies cricket by all means.

#4 Stafanie Taylor, West Indies

27-years old, All-rounder Stafanie Taylor hails from Jamaica - The Land of Cricket Legends. Jamaica has produced widely famous cricketers over the years like Michael Holding (Whispering Death), Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle (Universe Boss), Marlon Samuels.

Taylor broke into the West – Indies national side when she was yet to shed off her teens (at 17). On her T20I debut, she smashed 90 Runs off 49-balls, which remained her highest score ever in the format. Immediately she became the vital part of the team and still opens for the West Indies since the day she debuted.

Apart from her heroics in ODIs, where she broke and set several records in international circuit and made her country proud by becoming, ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year in 2011, ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2012 she also became the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2015.

In 2016, under her captaincy West – Indies women lift the World T20 title. She not only guided the team to the victory but also became the player of the series. Under her Captaincy in 2018 at home, she will definitely be aiming to retain the crown and make the West – Indies proud.

With an experience of over a decade in world cricket, scoring over 2500 runs, at an average of 36.97 and striking at 103.18 in T20Is, player of her calibre is rare to find in the world.

Young Indian side needs her expertise in the upcoming World Cup

#3 Harmanpreet Kaur, India

The Indian Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hails from the land of most fun-loving people on the earth: Punjab. Punjabis personify fun and there is no doubt about it. Sport runs through her blood as her father a Volleyball player and mother was a Basketball player.

Indian batting all-rounder idolizes the former India captain Virender Sehwag. Her batting skills give the glimpse of her idol more often.

Her ability to hit the ball a long way makes her the vital part in the Indian set up. She has led India to many victories in past. Be it, T20 series win in Australia in 2016 or 171*(115) against Australia in the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup semi-final.

She became the first Indian cricketer male or female to play in Big Bash League and Kia Super League. In 2018, Kaur is second to Suzi Bates in most runs’ chart. Harman has scored 480 runs at a fantastic average of 40.00 with a decent strike rate of 116.78

Over 9-years of International experience, she has piled up around 1700 runs in T20Is at a magnificent average of around 28. Arjun awardee Harman lives and swears by cricket, she is determined to bring glory to the nation in the upcoming mega event.

Australian Captain Meg Lanning

is is

undoubtedly Mithali Raj's successor-in-waiting

#2 Meg Lanning (The MegaStar), Australia (Southern Stars)

No one should be surprised if Meg Lanning is called “Superstar”. A ruthless, superbly talented and utterly dominated Australian Captain has earned that title over more successful cricketers at such a young age.

Drenched in Australian cricket culture, she carries the same attitude and professionalism that her idol Ricky Ponting would carry in his heydays. Breaking into the Australian side at the tender age of 18 to captaining Australia at 22 and leading her team to the World T20 title Lanning has seen it all.

She is always in a rush, be it on the field wearing captain’s cap or out there on 22-yards in batting gear. Her quick run-scoring ability is seldom to find in the world. She is the youngest captain and youngest player to score a ton for Australia.

It’s been eight years since she debuted for Australia but the pace in run-scoring, powerful attitude towards the game and positivity in her thoughts haven’t lost its charm a bit. In scoring tons, she is even giving a tough fight to the likes of Hashim Amla (6.38 innings per hundred) and just stands second to the Virat Kohli (5.66) with 5.75 innings per century.

She already holds the record for most centuries in ODI and highest individual score in T20I. She is the most prolific women cricketer of this generation have scored over 2000 T20 runs and became the first Australian player male or female to do so.

Scoring tonnes of runs in big tournaments and setting examples for the young players, she’s been a huge role model for the upcoming cricketers. Young girls no longer need to look to men's cricket for the role models.

Suzie Bates is among the best striker of the new ball

#1 Suzie Bates, White Ferns, New Zealand

Suzie Bates, a batting all-rounder and the former Olympian, was born in Dunedin. Playing basketball in her early years has moulded her into a better and strong physique. Attacking and power game suits her character.

Scoring her first ODI hundred at the age of 19 and went to become the highest run-getter in ODI for New-Zealand she has been instrumental in taking New-Zealand cricket to new heights.

She is the first female cricketer, who was awarded the inaugural contract by New Zealand Cricket. In the same year, she was named Player of the Tournament in World Cup and ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year.

With an experience of over a decade and 100 T20I to back up her talent, she is the highest run-getter currently in the world cricket with 2800+ runs at a healthy strike rate of 111.56.

2018 has been a productive year for the batting all-rounder, where she has amassed 509 runs in 12 innings at a magnificent avg of 56.55 in T20.

Apart from her batting prowess, she is equally dangerous with the ball in hand. She averages 24.69 with the ball. Prodigiously talented Suzie Bates will definitely lift the spirit of white ferns and guide them to the winning ways.