How the teams are tracking 100 days out from the World Cup
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Hosts New Zealand, alongside Australia, England, South Africa and India are the teams that have already locked down their spots in the tournament, starting 4 March. Three more teams will join them in New Zealand, with the final qualifier currently taking place in Zimbabwe.
Here we look at how the five confirmed teams so far are tracking going into the tournament.
**ODI Team Ranking:**First
**Top batter:**Alyssa Healy – Second on ICC ODI Batting rankings
**Top bowler:**Jess Jonassen – First on ICC ODI Bowling rankings
Hot favourites going into the previous Cricket World Cup, Australia were knocked out in the semi-finals by India. It was both a surprise loss and a transformative one for the Australians, whose cricket has gone from strength to strength since, combining increased aggression with added consistency.
Since that match, Australia have won 28 of the 30 matches they have played, losing just twice. Twenty-six of those victories came in a world record streak.
The Australians actually lost their most recent ODI against India, but will get the chance to get back on a winning run before the World Cup with three 50-over matches to play during the Ashes.
In 2021 they have won five of their six ODIs so far.
Expect big things from Jess Jonassen. The left-arm finger-spinner, who sits atop the ICC ODI bowling rankings, has been on fire since the last World Cup, with 47 wickets at 15.12.
ODI Team Ranking: Second
Top batter: Tammy Beaumont – Fourth
Top bowler: Sophie Ecclestone – Fifth
The reigning world champions, England will likely go into the 2022 tournament sitting second on the rankings and with every reason to believe they can go all the way again.
So far this year, England have won eight of their 11 ODIs, triumphing 2-1 and 4-1 over New Zealand home and away, and beating India 2-1 in between in the one-day leg of their multi-format series. They’ll have the chance to beat a third of their four confirmed World Cup opponents when they face Australia in the Ashes this summer.
England held their nerve in 2017 to win the final by nine runs against India, with Anya Shrubsole taking incredible figures of 6/46.
Since that tournament, England have won 14 of their 24 matches and will go into this edition high on confidence if they carry on their current form. In six of seven previous ODI campaigns, they have finished as winners with the outlier being a 3-0 loss in the ODI section of the 2019 Ashes.
ODI Team Ranking: Third
Top batter: Lizelle Lee – First
Top bowler: Marizanne Kapp – Fourth
Having lost a final over thriller to England in 2017, South Africa are yet to win the World Cup. They’ll be confident going into the 2022 event, however, having built a serious head of steam in 2021.
The Proteas have won 11 of their 13 ODIs this year, with one of the two outliers being a Super Over loss to West Indies. Marizanne Kapp’s team began 2021 with a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan at home before beating India and West Indies 4-1 away.
Unsurprisingly, Lizelle Lee has led the way with the bat for South Africa in that time, making 632 runs at an average of 90.28, well and truly justifying her status as the No.1 ODI batter in the world. If she can carry that form into the World Cup, she could lift them to their first-ever trophy in the tournament's history.
With the ball, Shabnim Ismail (18 wickets at 23.33) has thrived in 2021, ably supported by skipper Kapp (11 wickets at 29.18), who sits fourth on the bowling rankings.
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**ODI Team Ranking:**Fourth
Top batter: Mithali Raj – Third
Top bowler: Jhulan Goswami – Second
Having tasted defeat by just nine runs in the Cricket World Cup Final of 2017, India went on to reach the T20 World Cup decider in 2020, only to again fall at the last hurdle.
In 2022, they will be looking to go one step further and claim their first women's ICC trophy.
So far 2021 has not been the kindest of years for India, with just three wins from 11 matches, including series losses to South Africa (4-1), England (2-1) and Australia (2-1) – the latter two as part of multi-format series.
However, what’s clear is that at their best India are good enough to beat anyone, having ended Australia’s four-year winning streak in their most recent ODI. That same series saw them suffer a final delivery defeat in the second game.
Captain Mithali Raj (503 at 62.87) and seamer Jhulan Goswami (15 at 23.13) will be key, but the veteran duo will have plenty of support from India’s rising stars.
ODI Team Ranking:Fifth Top batter: Amy Satterthwaite - Fifth
Top bowler: Leigh Kasperek - Fourteenth
Like India, New Zealand have also had a tough time in 2021, winning just two of their 11 games. Six of the nine defeats they have suffered in 2021 have come at the hands of England, with the White Ferns going down 2-1 at home and 4-1 away either side of a 3-0 loss to Australia.
Still, with home ground advantage and support on their side, New Zealand will be determined to make the most of the opportunity afforded them. After all, the last time they hosted the event – in 2000 – was the last time they won the trophy.
Veterans Amy Satterthwaite (366 runs at 40.66) and Leigh Kasperek (14 wickets at 14.78) will both have big roles to play. They’ll be hoping Suzie Bates gets back into the swing of things too, having only recently returned from injury.