Women's World Cup Final: Australia v West Indies

The tournament starts next Friday.

England will be favourites, though Australia, New Zealand and in home conditions India all also have a chance.

For a variety of reasons the fixture list has been altered and remains uncertain. Sorry to blow my own trumpet but an article I wrote on that has been published on Cricinfo - http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/inbox/archives/2013/01/the_womens_world_cup_deserves.php.

Shelsey - interesting article - and the feedback which followed on cricinfo!

England warmed up with a solid win scoring 270 - 9 in their 50 overs against SA who could only reach 219 for 6 in their reply.

The feedback was indeed interesting - a bit more than the 0/1 comments I usually get for the sites I write for regularly. Mostly positive, with the odd absurd comment (the one suggesting cricketers playing on the streets are disadvantaged compared to pampered female cricketers who are no better) and a few questioning my reference to the Paralympics. Something I thought hard about, but eventually decided was relevant: both traditionally stigmatised, but the Paralympics were able to overcome that over here. The Women's World Cup has a similar challenge in India, in my view.

England narrowly lost final warm up game to NZ. Sounds like bowling was OK but batsmen came up a bit short.

This tournament will be no walk in the park for England.

Although they continue to have 1 of the best 2 quicks, the 2 best batters, the best 'keeper and the best fielding side, you feel Australia and New Zealand are catching up. And sub-continental conditions have proved tricky at times. In addition, having just played out a series Australia and NZ are a bit more battle hardened than England.

India got off to a flying start in the tournament, beating Windies by 105 runs. First century of the tournament - by Thirush Kamini.

Very good win for India.

Some good standard cricket in the first innings, before WI predictably struggled with the daunting total. Dottin hit some pretty massive sixes though.

England kick off tomorrow.

The crowd was predictably near non-existent, though in India weekends are often the best barometer.

Aus and NZ dished out thrashings to Pakistan and SA overnight, while Sri Lanka need 2 runs off 4 balls with 2 wickets in hand to upset England this morning

A dropped caught & bowled chance by Elwiss and the scores are tied, 3 balls left.

And Sri Lanka's number 10 hits the last ball of the innings to over the fence. England 238/8 (Gunn 52) lost to Sri Lanka 242/9 244/9 (Jayangani 62, Kaushayla 56)

Terrific game. Quite a lot of similarities to Ire v Eng at the men's World Cup actually. Kaushalya just started swinging and it worked.

There has been big (and much needed) investment in the Sri Lankan and Pakistani teams, and it seems to be paying off. As Jarrod Kimber wrote in his Cricinfo piece, 4 years ago both teams looked like randomly selected players plucked off the streets and put in a World Cup... now they look like proper teams.

South Africa are lagging behind big time... which is odd given the general emphasis on equality in SA society.

Bit of a nasty shock for England ! Complacency ?

Still back them to make the super six , but that pre- tournament favourite tag look a bit shaky now...

alfie wrote:Bit of a nasty shock for England ! Complacency ?

Still back them to make the super six , but that pre- tournament favourite tag look a bit shaky now...

The England women's team aren't as strong as they were when they won the tournament in 2009. Players like Claire Taylor who was the best ODI batsmen in Women's Cricket at that time have since retired. Also Sri Lanka actually have a decent pair of opening batsmen who are good enough to get into most other women's cricket teams in this world cup.

I'm not sure its complacency alfie, but more a combinations of conditions, the absence of a couple of top players, and perhaps more importantly the other teams improving quite considerably.

Note that Australia also had a scare, not even making 200 against minnows Pakistan. But they then rolled them over.

gboycottnut wrote:

alfie wrote:Bit of a nasty shock for England ! Complacency ?

Still back them to make the super six , but that pre- tournament favourite tag look a bit shaky now...

The England women's team aren't as strong as they were when they won the tournament in 2009. Players like Claire Taylor who was the best ODI batsmen in Women's Cricket at that time have since retired.

I disagree with that. The rest of the players are much better than they were then. But the other teams have also got much better. The others have taken on board what England are doing, and risen themselves to a level not far off.

Australia and New Zealand are the form teams in this tournament followed by England. Sri Lanka are looking good too.

After first two rounds looks like quite an open competition.

Charlotte Edwards' century against India (her 7th in ODIs) took her past Belinda Clark's record as leading run scorer in ODIs.

All 4 teams have 1 win in Group A. The two winners in the last round of games will go through, along with the team with the better run rate: if you were a betting man you'd say SL would miss out, unless they pull off another upset. If they do then England could be in trouble if they lose to WI. All 4 teams in this group look in good form (England perhaps a bit below their best, and WI very inconsistent as normal) so it'll be harsh on whoever misses out.

Group B is much simpler. Despite not having things all their own way, Australia and NZ have two comfortable wins each. South Africa and Pakistan will meet to decide who reaches the Super Sixes.

The organisers are probably banking on SA going through, as they'll have a bit of a headache if Pakistan go through and have to play in Mumbai.

England (bt WI by 6 wickets), Australia (bt NZ by 7 wickets) and South Africa (bt Pakistan by 126 runs) all won today and are into the Super Sixes.

SL sailing along nicely against India. 176/2 after 38 overs.

SL v India looks a very interesting game. The usually McGrath-like Jhulan Goswami is going at more than 6 an over. SL need a big win.

In a statistical curiosity, England need SL to go out. Points are carried forward, but only against the other teams that go forward (they don't meet again in Super 6). Hence, if WI go through Eng get the maximum 4 pts despite the defeat to SL, but take just 2 if SL go through.

Goswami played at the ground near me a few years ago... I was impressed with her athleticism.

Are you sure Shelsey? Just heard (about 15 mins ago) that the 3 winners in my above post are through already. Your post does makes sense though.

Linebreaker, I think you're right. SL just need to win - and if they did would take 4 points too!

England do go through whatever, but would struggle to make the final while carrying forward the SL loss (and its effect on NRR). Certainly, you'd think they would have to beat both Australia and NZ.

Bowled her!

Go Goswami!

The big-hitting Kaushalya has powered SL to 282. To put that into context, India's highest run chase (successful or not) was the 240 they got against England on Sunday.

Yeah, India will have their work cut out to reach that target.

Some big hits in the SL innings. I was typing away here and in my peripheral vision - it seemed like it was the men playing. The shot technique and power hitting in Women's cricket is just getting better and better.

India might be flat out making that 283. Although I am not sure Sri Lanka have as good an attack as England , so I won't write them off.
As Shelsey says England would be happier to see Sri Lanka eliminated , which I think they will be if they lose as they were a long way adrift of West Indies on net run rate after round two...
If Sri Lanka win they will go forward with four points , with England and India/WI on two each. Super sixes become very cut throat with Australia also on four ...

Don't think anyone predicted Sri Lanka to be any kind of a threat at this tournament so whatever happens they have injected some real life into the group stages.

Even if they carry just two points forward , I feel much happier about England now...seem to be improving with each game and I think there's more to come.

They will.

They only need 251 to get through, although they need the 282 to take any points forward.

The carrying forward points system has a number of flaws and there is another one coming up:

- If India make -250, Sri Lanka take 2 points (2 v Eng, 0 v WI)
- If India make 251-281, Sri Lanka take 4 points (2 v Eng, 2 v Ind)

Of course, if India make 282 SL will be gone. Eng with 4, WI with 2 and Ind with 2 would go through.

So based on the above , if India are , say 200/7 with five overs to go , it would pay Sri Lanka to put the wicket keeper on to bowl with eight slips or something ,or just bowl a lot of no balls
Clearly a tactical opportunity which runs counter to the spirit of the game , but the situation could well arise...

The real reason for this possible rule manipulation offering itself is that this one match is not being played simultaneously with the others. Although in today's case England- West Indies finished early anyway , but you know what I mean...

Let us hope the match is too tight for any messing around.

Sri Lanka win by 138 runs and qualify for the Super Sixes. India crash out.

I usually like points carried forward systems, but in this case the strange results in Group A have thrown up a table for the Super Sixes which doesn't look right to me.

The system has favoured West Indies: despite being thrashed twice their one mammoth win puts them 3rd, ahead of England and Sri Lanka on NRR.

Meanwhile, it doesn't really favour Sri Lanka: despite the 2 wins they find themselves 5th, on account of their single mammoth loss.

Maybe you should carry all points forward, not just against the teams that go through (I know that could be unfair in itself, but anyway).

Great game going on between England and Australia.

Earlier in the day, Australia were sent in to bat and were reeling at 32/5 at one stage. They somehow managed to scrape together 147... in 44.4 overs.

England in reply was almost a carbon copy... 39/6 early on.

Going down to the wire. England are currently 132/9 with 5 overs remaining.

What a match. Australia win by a mere 2 runs.

Super catch by Field off a very fine edge.

Australia win by two runs !

Terrific match , if with rather a lot of mistakes by the bats on both teams.

Rather hope they play off in the final again , though while Australia is practically guaranteed to finish top now , England still have work to do. Still fancy them to make it , unless Australia slip up and gift some points to WI or Sri Lanka. Though NZ won't be a push over.

Commiserations Alfie.

I'd agree. NZ and England will be in contention for the Big Prize still.

(I just hope none of our girls make any silly statements to the press or on twitter like the Indian lass did to inspire The Roses again)

Don't think they'll be that silly , lb

Pretty happy to win that , weren't they , after nearly having it snatched away at the end ?

Must say I thought England would walk 148 , but the bowlers just kept pegging away and after a couple of top bats fell cheaply it started to look a lot bigger target ...suspect both teams will bat better if they do meet again.

What about that young Holly Ferling?

I'd heard Ellyse (first name basis!) was out of the match due to a tummy upset. Very pleasing to the eye to watch Ferling run in to bowl. Some fairly decent athletes on both sides.

Linebreaker wrote:What about that young Holly Ferling?

I'd heard Ellyse (first name basis!) was out of the match due to a tummy upset. Very pleasing to the eye to watch Ferling run in to bowl. Some fairly decent athletes on both sides.

Australia now have a better bowling attack than England with both their 2 tall very fast bowlers Ellyse Perry and Holly Ferling both of whom not only look like each other but they both have very similar bowling actions.

gboycottnut wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:What about that young Holly Ferling?

I'd heard Ellyse (first name basis!) was out of the match due to a tummy upset. Very pleasing to the eye to watch Ferling run in to bowl. Some fairly decent athletes on both sides.

Australia now have a better bowling attack than England with both their 2 tall very fast bowlers Ellyse Perry and Holly Ferling both of whom not only look like each other but they both have very similar bowling actions.

Yeah maybe Boycs ('better bowling attack'). England have some very experienced bowlers who know how to succeed at the highest. They will always be a threat to any team. It's great to have this rivalry too.

Ferling made sure they didn't lose much by Perry sitting this one out. She had a bit of luck it must be admitted , and rather lost her line at the end , but she looks like a prospect. Only seventeen ?

She was tiring near the end and lost a fair bit of shape. She looks a very good prospect for Australia though.

Holly Ferling, oh my. A cracking game of cricket and a great advert for the women's game. And it is really good to see it as top story on the BBC sport website!

England rolled SA for 77 and lost only 3 wickets in 9.3 overs to win the match.

Australia have just beaten Sri Lanka and remain undefeated.

Sri Lanka 131 (45.2)
Australia 132/1 (22.2)

They are also through to their 8th World Cup Final.

Linebreaker wrote:England rolled SA for 77 and lost only 3 wickets in 9.3 overs to win the match.

Pretty emphatic.

Still didn't lift that NRR enough to get close to NZ. Assuming the Kiwis beat West Indies tomorrow , England will need a fairly large win over them in the last game to make the final. Tough assignment.

I can see they wanted to bowl first because of the conditions , but batting first gave them a chance of a much greater run rate improvement , and I rather think they should have taken the risk and tried that.

Of course a West Indian win over NZ would make things easier , as long as Australia don't go to sleep in the dead match , but I think that is unlikely.


At the moment it looks as if NZ are favourites for the second final spot... say 50% , to England 40% and WI 10% ?

Sporting names are getting ever more improbable... "Twelvetrees"..."Shrubsole"

Both excellent players in their own right - but does having a really memorable name give you some kind of edge when you are first trying to make a mark in your chosen sport.....

Linebreaker wrote:Australia have just beaten Sri Lanka and remain undefeated.

Sri Lanka 131 (45.2)
Australia 132/1 (22.2)

They are also through to their 8th World Cup Final.

Looks like Australia are going to win the final this year as I can't see any team left in the tournament being able to score enough runs quickly enough against this Australia bowling attack which will be further strenghened by the return and inclusion of Ellyse Perry for the Final.

great bowling performance today from england, and mainly Anya Shrubsole!

CF wrote:great bowling performance today from england, and mainly Anya Shrubsole!

But the batting still looks a worry particularly with Sarah Taylor who hasn't scored in THREE innings now! Perhaps England should bring in 19 year old Amy Jones for the NZ match as she batted well in the Sri Lanka match with a impressive 40 runs on a very difficult wicket.

Bit of a surprise with West Indies beating NZ by 48 runs today...takes them to second on the table...

Makes the final shape a bit clearer , as all the run rates are now fairly close we can more or less say

1 . IF West Indies beat Australia they are certainly in the final with Australia.
2 . If West Indies lose , then the winner of England & NZ will be the finalist.

Of course very close results could change that , and if the matches are indeed close the calculators will be out , but I think that the above are the most likely now.

Now Australia could , if they felt another opponent was more dangerous , choose to influence things by throwing the game to West Indies ...but I do not think this sort of chicanery is in their makeup , and anyway they won't want to mess with their form , though they may rest a player or two. I expect them to beat West Indies , leaving England v NZ as a knock out lead in to the final ; and as it will be the last match both sides will know what is required...

We may cavil at the slightly odd format of this tournament , but it looks likely to maintain interest from the first round right through to the end of the qualifications. More so than the men's version