WT20WC 2024 Group B Preview: Former winners chase glory in UAE

England won the inaugural edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2009 and have finished as runners up on a further three occasions, with the most recent of those coming in 2018 when they fell at the final hurdle against Australia in the West Indies.

You have to go back to that 2018 tournament to find the most recent time the West Indies reached the semi-finals, while South Africa will be high on confidence after they came agonisingly close to a first T20 World Cup title when they hosted an enthralling event on home soil last year.

Bangladesh and Scotland have never reached the semi-finals, but both teams have shown they are capable of causing an upset and aren't completely out of contention of reaching the knockout stages.

Group A Preview

Bangladesh

Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty let the world know of Bangladesh’s keenness to do well in the upcoming event when she declared that the side wanted to win their tournament opener against Scotland and then dream of building something bigger across the remainder of the tournament.

On a hunt for their first T20 World Cup win in almost a decade, the Tigresses have had a tough build-up to the global mega-event, playing against Australia, India and South Africa over the last few months.

Besides promising performances, Bangladesh have also yielded results with an Asia Cup semi-final and a tied T20I series along with an ODI win in South Africa. One can expect their tweakers to take charge in UAE's helpful conditions, but their pace attack is also skillful enough to rattle the opponents with the ball.

On the verge of her 100th T20I, Joty will be the lynchpin of a fresh-look batting line-up, one that will hopefully bring energetic intent with the willow.

Squad

Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha Biswas

Fixtures

v Scotland, Sharjah, 3 October
v England, Sharjah, 5 October
v West Indies, Sharjah, 10 October
v South Africa, Dubai, 12 October

Watch out for

Still just 17, Shorna Akter is on the verge of featuring in her second T20 World Cup in the UAE. After starring in the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup in January 2023, Shorna made her international debut in the senior event the following month in South Africa.

And the all-rounder has gone from strength to strength since the last Women’s T20 World Cup, having added 11 wickets at an average of 17.54 and 189 runs at a strike rate close to 86 with the bat in that period.

She has shown a liking to an attacking lower-order batter role of late, having struck a strike rate of 137.5 in the Women’s Asia Cup at No.8. Her leg-breaks are always handy and the bowler isn’t an easy option to take on, as South Africa found to their misery during Shorna’s career-best 5/28 in Benoni in December last year.

England

Since their triumph in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, England have reached the final four on six occasions, earning a spot in the title decider three times. In each of these three finals, arch-rivals Australia has bested them.

But it’s not just Australia that Heather Knight’s team has to be on the lookout for with a number of competitive sides like India, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the mix. However, England are managing the pressures by not chopping and changing too much and keeping a sense of continuity going ahead of the event.

The spin trinity of Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, and Sophie Ecclestone, is joined by the talented Linsey Smith while Alice Capsey and Danni Wyatt-Hodge can also come in handy.

Adept pacers give a well-rounded look to the bowling resources.

Moving toward the batting, veteran skipper Knight with Sophia Dunkley, Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt among others are more than capable of chasing down any target. Given good preparation in the home season in the UK, England will be confident of their prospects in UAE.

Squad

Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath

Fixtures

v Bangladesh, Sharjah, 5 October
v South Africa, Sharjah, 7 October
v Scotland, Sharjah, 13 October
v West Indies, Dubai, 15 October

Watch out for

All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt doesn’t require it to be a T20 World Cup to show brilliant form, but would surely want to make this occasion her own.

The highest run-getter for England in the previous edition - her 216 runs coming at an average of 72 and a strike rate exceeding 140 - Sciver-Brunt has been in a sensational touch ever since and will look to go for the title at the height of her powers.

As the recently concluded Women’s Hundred and the warm-up fixture against Australia showed, the all-rounder is working hard on her bowling and will look to deliver in both disciplines on the field.

Scotland

The European side qualified for their first women's T20 World Cup when they finished as runner-up behind Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament earlier this year and are capable of picking up a couple of upsets in the UAE.

Much of their success will come down to the performances of the Bryce sisters, with skipper Kathryn Bryce and younger sister Sarah among the most accomplished players in the Scotland outfit.

Kathryn Bryce was the hero in the decisive semi-final victory over Ireland at the qualifier tournament as she collected four wickets in a Player of the Match effort, while Sarah showed her capabilities with a quickfire half-century in the warm-up contest against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.

If Scotland can pick up a victory or two in the UAE then they can consider their maiden T20 World Cup appearance as a success.

Squad

Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce (vc), Lorna Jack-Brown, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Abtaha Maqsood, Saskia Horley, Chloe Abel, Priyanaz Chatterji, Megan McColl, Darcey Carter, Ailsa Lister, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater, Katherine Fraser, Olivia Bell

Fixtures

v Bangladesh, Sharjah, 3 October
v West Indies, Dubai, 6 October
v South Africa, Dubai, 9 October
v England, Sharjah, 13 October

Watch out for

While Saskia Horley didn't set the world on fire during the T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament earlier this year, the talented 24-year-old did manage one half-century and is sure to show her best form in the UAE this time around.

Horley scored her maiden international century earlier this year when she smashed a superb hundred in an ODI against Papua New Guinea and the Australian-born batter is capable of going big again in the UAE.

The right-hander scores quickly too, so don't be shocked to see her get Scotland off to a brisk start with the bat during the T20 World Cup.

South Africa

The runners up at last year's T20 World Cup will be confident of going one step further this time around under the strong leadership of star batter Laura Wolvaardt.

Wolvaardt only took over the captaincy from Suné Luus last year, but has already established herself as one of the best captains in the women's game.

The classy right-hander is the No.5 ranked T20I batter in the world and she can catapult the Proteas to the knockout stages of the event with a strong showing with the bat.

The South Africa support class is full of quality too, with the likes of Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk all capable of contributing with both bat and ball.

Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon

Fixtures

v West Indies, Dubai, 4 October
v England, Sharjah, 7 October
v Scotland, Dubai, 9 October
v Bangladesh, Dubai, 12 October

Watch out for

Marizanne Kapp is a proven match-winner and is almost certain to lead her team to victory on at least one occasion during the T20 World Cup.

Kapp claimed nine wickets at the most recent edition of the tournament and the 34-year-old will attempt to impose herself on opposition batters once again this time around.

The veteran is also extremely capable with the bat, so keep a close eye on Kapp as the tournament progresses towards the knockout stages.

West Indies

The 2018 champions should not be underestimated and are more than capable of at least reaching the knockout stages of the event.

The West Indies have made it through to at least the semi-final stage in five of the previous eight editions of the T20 World Cup and the Caribbean side have some of the most destructive short-form players in the world at their disposal.

Skipper Hayley Matthews is ranked the No.1 all-rounder in T20I cricket, while former captain Deandra Dottin is a proven match-winner who has only recently returned to the international fold.

If the West Indies can get good contributions from the likes of Shemaine Campbelle, Afy Fletcher, Chedean Nation and Aaliyah Alleyne then don't be surprised to see Matthews and Dottin spearhead the side into the semi-finals.

Squad

Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vc, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton

Fixtures

v South Africa, Dubai, 4 October
v Scotland, Dubai, 6 October
v Bangladesh, Sharjah, 10 October
v England, Dubai, 15 October

Watch out for

Don't expect to see the West Indies die wondering during the tournament, with captain Hayley Matthews likely to attack at every opportunity.

Matthews is the West Indies biggest weapon - with both bat and ball - and the inspirational skipper is sure to impose herself early into matches whenever the opportunity presents.

The star all-rounder won't be scared to bowl herself during the Powerplay or the death and is sure to try and attack opposition bowlers as soon as she arrives at the crease with the bat.