MOUNT MAUNGANUI, March 3: Mithali Raj would be eager to get her hands on a maiden World Cup title in what would be her last hurrah for India at the world stage. Heather Knight will hope to defend it while Meg Lanning seems primed to lead Australia to a ‘Magnificent Seventh’ when the ICC Women’s World Cup gets underway here on Friday.
The tournament, which was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be played across six venues with the ICC deciding that teams will stay in a ‘managed environment’ instead of stringent bio-bubbles.
The marquee event will be played in a league format, where all eight teams will face each other once with the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals.
India, who were runners-up in the last edition and in 2005, open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan, while hosts New Zealand, who won the title in 2000, will take on West Indies in the tournament opener.
Australia, the most successful side with six titles, will meet defending champions four-time champs England.
The month-long event will see young stars and veterans come together. While the likes of Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, Suzie Bates and Megan Schutt will look to add to their already glittering legacies, teenagers including Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Fran Jones and Darcie Brown will be eager to make one.
New Zealand head into the tournament off the back of a 4-1 series win against India and a thumping victory over Australia in their second warm-up match.
“It’s hugely exciting. It’s been a tournament that’s long been coming up with Covid delays here and there but to think that we are finally here, tomorrow it all kicks off, it is certainly extremely exciting. I know this group is ready, we have obviously had fantastic prep, we have come off a heavy diet of cricket over the summer and I don’t think we could be any better prepared heading into this World Cup, so we’re really excited to finally get going. It’ll be interesting to see how the sleep goes tonight. I’ve tried to have a few naps today and they’ve not been that successful!” said Sophie ahead of the tournament opener.
New Zealand last won the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2000 where the hosts’ beat Australia. (IANS)
