ENGLAND

Tournaments: 6 Result in 2018: Runners-up Best finish: Winners 2009 ICC ranking: 2nd

Form line: The first winners of the Women’s World T20 (and current ODI champions) come into the 2020 event with their confidence a little shaken. Australia so dominated the Ashes that it raised questions about a burgeoning gap in depth between the old rivals. The English are pouring in resources to catch up, among them a new coach, Aussie Lisa Keightley.

What previous tournaments tell us: England will factor into the outcome – in addition to that inaugural 2009 victory at home, it has made three other finals. Also count on an English star to enjoy breakout success – three Englishwomen have claimed player of the tournament.

Player to watch: The daughter of a British diplomat, Natalie Sciver was born in Japan, and grew up in Poland and the Netherlands. She took up cricket when she returned to England in her teens, and rose up the ranks so quickly that she says she wasn’t even aware of the women’s national side. The 27-year-old is a big-hitting batter and accurate medium-pacer, the sixthranked T20 all-rounder by the ICC.

Expectations: England can quickly change the narrative of looming Australian domination, and spoil the locals’ fun along the way, with a few results going their way. The talent is there to accomplish it: captain Heather Knight, opener Danni Wyatt and Sciver were among seven English players who participated in the recent Women’s Big Bash season, getting acclimated to Australian conditions.