(Cricket news) The Women's World Cup is just around the corner with the mega tournament set to kick off on 4th March. 8 teams will go head to head in a single table Round Robin where the top four teams will qualify for the semi finals. If the 50-Over World Cup is anything like the T-20 World Cup two years ago, then it is going to be an absolute joy to watch.
Here are 5 players to watch out for at the 2022 Women's World Cup:
5) Deepti Sharma
The Indian team is very balanced with the right amount of experience and youth. Naturally players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami grab the headlines. Even young guns like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh will have a lot of expectations due to their power hitting. Deepti Sharma more often than not goes under the radar. Batting in the middle order, Deepti is the side's fix it lady. She can bat anywhere between 3 and 7 holding one end or playing her strokes as per the situation. With the willow Deepti has a knack of picking out gaps with her elegant play and her big shots are also reliable. With the ball Deepti Sharma's importance is even more, her off-spin troubles opposition batters on a consistent basis. She is capable of bowling in the powerplay, middle overs and at ths death. Mithali Raj tends to use her at the death where she more often than not delivers.
4) Alyssa Healy
Australia is a team of superstars which makes them heavy favourites to lift the trophy. It is difficult to pick their most important player but Alyssa Healy is definitely one of them. The wicket-keeper Batter is quite simply dangerous when she opens the batting. She is currently the number 1 ranked ODI batter in the world. Her range of shots combined with her power and temperament makes bowlers scratch their heads. Apart from the batting, Healy is also the best wicket-keeper in the game who rarely stumbles. Her presence behind the stumps is also a big asset for the Aussie spinners.
3) Natalie Sciver
England will come into the tournament after a difficult loss against Australia in the Ashes. England didn't win a single game in any format which must have had a severe effect on their confidence. However the England team has too much talent to go down without a fight. A lot of England's progression in the tournament will depend on the performance of Natalie Sciver. Batting at number 4, Sciver will be crucial in the middle overs to keep the scoreboard ticking. Her skiddy medium pace will also be a very big asset to the England side. The biggest advantage of having a player like Sciver is that she can adjust to different roles as per the requirements of the team balance. She is more than capable of playing as a pure batter or a bowler due to her ability.
2) Amelia Kerr
Amelia Kerr is one of the most in-form batters entering the World Cup. In the 5 match series against India, Kerr was the highest run scorer with 353 runs. She was also New Zealand's joint highest wicket taker along with her sister Jess with 7 wickets. She also smashed an unbeaten 92 to defeat Australia in the Warm up match. Kerr's composed batting in the middle order is something New Zealand will be so relieved to have. Her ability to put the pressure back on the bowlers in middle overs by scoring quick runs is always a treat to watch. With the ball, Kerr's leg spin is very handy and gives skipper Sophie Devine a very good option when in need of wickets.
1) Tahlia McGrath
There is no one at the World Cup who is in a hot run of form like Tahlia McGrath. She recently won back to back Player of the Series awards against England and India. Her all-round ability is a very big asset to the side and a very big thinking point for the opposition. With the ball, McGrath can swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsman in any given conditions. She usually bats at number 6 or 7 and has the ability to go big in the death overs. Australia have a lot of all-rounders but McGrath is one who will have the most expectations on her shoulders especially given the conditions which favour her bowling style.
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