The Bloggers' Predictions
We thought we ought to put the bloggers on the spot and find out who they think will come out on top at this World Cup. So we put the same few questions to each of the bloggers who have contributed to this dedicated Women's World Cup blog. Here are their answers. But will they be cowering in a corner, or crowing like a rooster, once the competition is over in five weeks time?
Who do you think will be the top run scorer?
Martin Davies : There are a few candidates, but the most consistent ODI performer over the last couple of years is Ellyse Perry, so she gets my vote.
Don Miles : For me it has to be Meg Lanning. If you are the world's best it should be you if you keep your nerve.
Snehal Pradhan : I'm going for Ellyse Perry too.
Raf Nicholson : I'm going to say Suzie Bates. She managed it last time and, if anything, she is a better player now than she was in 2013.
Syd Egan : It's got to be Meg Lanning, and I think she will have the highest individual score too.
Who do you think will be the top wicket taker?
SE : Recent history of women's ODIs suggests a spinner - I'll go for Sune Luus - especially if the summer starts to get dry and dusty.
DM : If there is any swing at all, then it has to be Anya Shrubsole. She can take any line-up apart.
MD : I have to agree with Don, Anya Shrubsole.
SP : I think South African Shabnim Ismail could be a real threat in English conditions, but South Africa might not make the last two games, which could restrict her tally.
RN : I agree with that Snehal, Shabnim Ismail. She will be one of the first names on the South African team sheet and should like English conditions.
Who will hit the most boundaries?
RN : Ellyse Perry, and she will do it with consumate ease.
SE : Meg Lanning....because she is Meg Lanning.
MD : My choice would be West Indian Stafanie Taylor, just because she hates running between the wickets.
DM : I'm going to plump for Suzie Bates, but Ellyse Perry is in cracking form and could give her a run for her money.
SP : I think you are right Don, Ellyse Perry is in cracking form. She is my choice.
Who will win the most Player of the Match awards?
MD : As an all-rounder Ellyse Perry effectively gets two shots at it every match, and if the Aussies get to the final she will have nine chances.
DM : I agree Ellyse Perry. In great form and two chances with both bat and ball.
SP : Make that three votes for Ellyse Perry.
SE : This is difficult. The winning number is not likely to be more than three. I'll go for Meg Lanning, but I think Suzie Bates will be the Player of the Tournament.
RN : For me it's Stafanie Taylor. When you are the strongest player in your team it is more likely than not that you will be in contention every match.
What will be the highest and lowest team scores, and by whom?
MD : I think this could be the highest scoring World Cup yet, with the girls playing on some great batting tracks, certainly early on. I reckon West Indies have it within them to score big against the minnows - 371.
As for the lowest score then possibly Sri Lanka and around 90. They have the capacity to totally lose the plot sometimes.
SE : 380 by Australia, and I agree with Sri Lanka, who will implode at some point. I reckon 69, which is nowhere near the lowest ever, which is 22 by the Netherlands.
SP : 280+ for Australia, and yes Sri Lanka with 90.
DM : It is Australia and Sri Lanka for me too, but I think about 330 and 55 (wow that's harsh Don!)
RN : I'm going for Sri Lanka too, but only 50 (Don you are off the hook!). And Australia who will score 350 against Pakistan
Which player will have the best strike rate? (must face over 60 balls)
SE : This is not typically a front-line batsmen, but someone who comes in towards the end and smashes it about - my pick is Katherine Brunt.
DM : I'm going for Suzie Bates - one of the hardest hitters in the game and usually cool in her execution.
SP : I think Syd has the right idea, but I'm going for Alyssa Healy, who will do the same sort of job for Australia.
RN : Sophie Devine - and you would feel the same if you had seen her tonking the Berkshire players round the park recently!
MD : I can see Brunt and Healy being right up there, and Elyse Villani, but I'm going to stick my neck out and say Dani Wyatt. I think that is the role that Mark Robinson will give her, plus she is quick between the wickets, so no dot balls
Finally, the Big One! (well Big Three)
Who will make the semis; who will make the final; and who is going to win?
SP : England, New Zealand, Australia and India to make the semis, with Australia and whoever draws India making the final, which Australia will win.
RN : England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa top four and then Australia and New Zealand to battle out the final, with New Zealand winning.
DM : I agree with Raf on the top four and the semi-finalists, but I think Australia will win. They are a ruthless team.
SE : Yep I agree with the top four, with South Africa just getting fourth spot. I think England will lose to the Aussies in the semis and New Zealand will beat South Africa. For me it has to be New Zealand to win. This is their Golden Generation with Bates, Devine, Satterthwaite, Tahuhu and Priest. They are the more rounded team.
MD : Yep top four as with Raf, Don and Syd, but I think it will be an England v Australia final and that England will come out on top. Robinson has created "a team", who all pull for each other and believe in themselves. Self-confidence will win WWC17!
Now all we can do is wait and see.....
Who do you think will be the top run scorer?
Martin Davies : There are a few candidates, but the most consistent ODI performer over the last couple of years is Ellyse Perry, so she gets my vote.
Don Miles : For me it has to be Meg Lanning. If you are the world's best it should be you if you keep your nerve.
Snehal Pradhan : I'm going for Ellyse Perry too.
Raf Nicholson : I'm going to say Suzie Bates. She managed it last time and, if anything, she is a better player now than she was in 2013.
Syd Egan : It's got to be Meg Lanning, and I think she will have the highest individual score too.
Who do you think will be the top wicket taker?
SE : Recent history of women's ODIs suggests a spinner - I'll go for Sune Luus - especially if the summer starts to get dry and dusty.
DM : If there is any swing at all, then it has to be Anya Shrubsole. She can take any line-up apart.
MD : I have to agree with Don, Anya Shrubsole.
SP : I think South African Shabnim Ismail could be a real threat in English conditions, but South Africa might not make the last two games, which could restrict her tally.
RN : I agree with that Snehal, Shabnim Ismail. She will be one of the first names on the South African team sheet and should like English conditions.
Who will hit the most boundaries?
RN : Ellyse Perry, and she will do it with consumate ease.
SE : Meg Lanning....because she is Meg Lanning.
MD : My choice would be West Indian Stafanie Taylor, just because she hates running between the wickets.
DM : I'm going to plump for Suzie Bates, but Ellyse Perry is in cracking form and could give her a run for her money.
SP : I think you are right Don, Ellyse Perry is in cracking form. She is my choice.
Who will win the most Player of the Match awards?
MD : As an all-rounder Ellyse Perry effectively gets two shots at it every match, and if the Aussies get to the final she will have nine chances.
DM : I agree Ellyse Perry. In great form and two chances with both bat and ball.
SP : Make that three votes for Ellyse Perry.
SE : This is difficult. The winning number is not likely to be more than three. I'll go for Meg Lanning, but I think Suzie Bates will be the Player of the Tournament.
RN : For me it's Stafanie Taylor. When you are the strongest player in your team it is more likely than not that you will be in contention every match.
What will be the highest and lowest team scores, and by whom?
MD : I think this could be the highest scoring World Cup yet, with the girls playing on some great batting tracks, certainly early on. I reckon West Indies have it within them to score big against the minnows - 371.
As for the lowest score then possibly Sri Lanka and around 90. They have the capacity to totally lose the plot sometimes.
SE : 380 by Australia, and I agree with Sri Lanka, who will implode at some point. I reckon 69, which is nowhere near the lowest ever, which is 22 by the Netherlands.
SP : 280+ for Australia, and yes Sri Lanka with 90.
DM : It is Australia and Sri Lanka for me too, but I think about 330 and 55 (wow that's harsh Don!)
RN : I'm going for Sri Lanka too, but only 50 (Don you are off the hook!). And Australia who will score 350 against Pakistan
Which player will have the best strike rate? (must face over 60 balls)
SE : This is not typically a front-line batsmen, but someone who comes in towards the end and smashes it about - my pick is Katherine Brunt.
DM : I'm going for Suzie Bates - one of the hardest hitters in the game and usually cool in her execution.
SP : I think Syd has the right idea, but I'm going for Alyssa Healy, who will do the same sort of job for Australia.
RN : Sophie Devine - and you would feel the same if you had seen her tonking the Berkshire players round the park recently!
MD : I can see Brunt and Healy being right up there, and Elyse Villani, but I'm going to stick my neck out and say Dani Wyatt. I think that is the role that Mark Robinson will give her, plus she is quick between the wickets, so no dot balls
Finally, the Big One! (well Big Three)
Who will make the semis; who will make the final; and who is going to win?
SP : England, New Zealand, Australia and India to make the semis, with Australia and whoever draws India making the final, which Australia will win.
RN : England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa top four and then Australia and New Zealand to battle out the final, with New Zealand winning.
DM : I agree with Raf on the top four and the semi-finalists, but I think Australia will win. They are a ruthless team.
SE : Yep I agree with the top four, with South Africa just getting fourth spot. I think England will lose to the Aussies in the semis and New Zealand will beat South Africa. For me it has to be New Zealand to win. This is their Golden Generation with Bates, Devine, Satterthwaite, Tahuhu and Priest. They are the more rounded team.
MD : Yep top four as with Raf, Don and Syd, but I think it will be an England v Australia final and that England will come out on top. Robinson has created "a team", who all pull for each other and believe in themselves. Self-confidence will win WWC17!
Now all we can do is wait and see.....
Top run scorer - Lanning. No-one can match her for going big once they get a start. Her 50% conversion rate from 50-100 is unprecedented in women's ODIs. Has a 33.3% conversion rate from 30-100.
ReplyDeleteTop wicket taker - Ismail & Huddleston have the best 2 SR among pace bowlers since the 2013 WC. They've respectively taken 1.72 and 1.55 wickets per match vs the top 8 sides in that time. Huddleston because NZ will get further.
Most boundaries - Lanning
Most POTM - Sciver
Highest score - AUS v PAK or SL 330+ Judging by recent comments and how they went in warm-ups, it appears they feel they have something to prove (to themselves as much as anyone) having not reached 300 since 2012.
Lowest team score - Sri Lanka sub-100 vs England or NZ. Brittlest batting line-up in the competition and have never played an ODI in England. Huddleston/Tahuhu & Brunt/Shrubsole combos could cause carnage. WI might do something silly.
Highest SR (60 ball min) - Sciver has the highest career SR ever for a recognised batsman (102) and has been striking at 112 in the Robinson era.. No min BF - Shrubsole
SF - AUS, ENG, IND, NZ. Australia to face England or NZ in the final and win chasing down 250+