Women's World Cup - Cricket World Predictions

Women's World Cup - Cricket World Predictions

The Cricket World team expect England and Australia to be challenging for honours in India

©REUTERS / Action Images

With the 2013 Women's World Cup underway in India, here are the thoughts of the Cricket World team which will be keeping you up to date with the latest action, scores and match reports.

Alastair Symondson, John Pennington and Daniel Grummitt identify the teams they think will still be in contention when the tournament moves into the closing stages next month.

Alastair Symondson, Head of Media

I think England have a really good chance, (I expect this to be) Charlotte Edwards' last World Cup, so it would be nice to see her come back with the trophy.

With England being the favourites, I would definitely put a small bet on them retaining the trophy!

John Pennington, Editor

I have said for a while that anything other than an Australia/England final is unlikely, given how those two teams have proved themselves as the top two sides since the last competition.

New Zealand have struggled for any sort of consistency - highlighted by a defeat to India and a win over England in their warm-ups. If Suzie Bates has a bad tournament, they will struggle, if she has a good tournament, can the other players do enough to drive them forward? Too much uncertainty surrounds them for me to have any confidence in them making the final.

Hosts India have impressed me in the build-up to the competition but they seem unable to beat Australia, which is why I don't see them as overall contenders, but if they could beat New Zealand, England or even both, they would be my outside pick to reach the final.

Personally, I would make Australia favourites given their recent series win in India, although bet365 disagree, making England their favourites with Australia at 9/4 before the tournament got underway.

Daniel Grummitt, Domestic Cricket Correspondent

England undoubtedly start as narrow favourites ahead of Australia and it would be brave man to bet against an Australia/England final.

The two teams have dominated the running in Women’s World Cups ever since they began in 1973 with one or the other winning every event bar the one in 2000. New Zealand won on that occasion and it is they who are probably the best of the rest, although their batting does rely heavily on captain Suzie Bates.

West Indies and hosts India are the next most likely, although it is hard to see either getting beyond the super six stage. As for the identity of the six teams who will make it out of the group stage, two matches - Sri Lanka’s against West Indies on 3rd February and Pakistan versus South Africa on 5th February - are likely to be virtual quarter-finals for the teams involved.

West Indies should comfortably beat Sri Lanka, with South Africa slight favourites to defeat Pakistan.

Andrew Wood, New Media

I can't see beyond Australia winning, despite England being the favourites. I have been impressed with the West Indies and they would be outside tip to perhaps reach the final or at least get very close.

© Cricket World 2013