World T20 to be best ever: Lanning

Meg Lanning is tipping the 2018 edition of the Women’s World T20 to be the most highly skilled and competitive yet, with the emergence of domestic leagues including the Rebel WBBL helping lift the world’s best players to another level.

The first edition of the Women’s Big Bash had just drawn to a close when the 2016 World T20 was held in India and in the two years since, England have introduced their own version, the Super League.

Not only have Australian and English players reaped the benefits of playing more cricket than ever, but also overseas stars from the likes of New Zealand, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

“Having really high-quality international players playing in the same competition improves the standard,” Lanning said from Providence Stadium in Guyana on Monday, where her team is preparing for Friday’s tournament opener against Pakistan.

“I think the fact that a lot of the teams here have been playing more cricket as well, with the ICC Women’s Championship (has helped), the more the countries play the better everyone gets.

“So there’s no doubt in my mind this will be the most highly skilled and competitive T20 World Cup we’ve seen and it’s going to be great to watch.”

England captain Heather Knight, who was recently unveiled as one of Hobart Hurricanes’ three overseas players for WBBL|04 and who’ll be appearing in the league for a third time in four years, agreed.

“It’s propelled the game forward loads,” Knight said after England training on Monday.

“I’ve played in both competitions and I think they’re brilliant. 

“It’s given players from different countries, the South Africans that have played in the Big Bash really seem to have come on and it’s just increased the amount of cricket internationals are playing all year round.

“We’ve seen the innovations that have come in, batters are a lot more fearless now and there’s a lot more high scoring in general.”

Australia have fielded three debutants already in 2018 off the back off impressive WBBL|03 campaigns, with Renegades allrounder Sophie Molineux and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham coming into the team alongside Sydney Thunder pacer Nicola Carey.

Another Renegade in fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is also in Australia’s 15-strong squad and could make her debut during the two-and-a-half-week tournament.

England’s Super League had a similar influence on their squad selection, with uncapped left-arm spinners Kirstie Gordon and Linsey Smith chosen ahead of World Cup winners Alex Hartley andLaura Marsh off the back of excellent domestic form.

A large number of WBBL internationals both past and present will be in action in the Caribbean, including five from New Zealand, seven from South Africa, nine from England, three from India, three from Ireland, three from West Indies and one from Sri Lanka.

Australia will play a warm-up match against South Africa at Guyana’s Providence Stadium on Tuesday from 4pm local time (Wednesday 7am), with live scores available on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

Once the tournament proper gets underway, Fox Sports will broadcast every match of the Women’s World T20, while the Nine Network will televise Australia’s matches.

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground