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England Test captain Andrew Strauss was still waiting for the opportunity to play himself back into form after rain and bad light wiped out all but 10.1 overs of the second day of the County Championship match between Middlesex and Gloucestershire at Uxbr

28-Jun-2011
ScorecardEngland Test captain Andrew Strauss was still waiting for the opportunity to play himself back into form after rain and bad light wiped out all but 10.1 overs of the second day of the County Championship match between Middlesex and Gloucestershire at Uxbridge.Strauss has scored two centuries for Middlesex this season – 151 in the opening match of the Sri Lanka tour at Uxbridge and 103 in a Championship game against Glamorgan at Lord’s – but he made only 27 runs in four innings in the Test series against Sri Lanka.He did not help his cause when he dropped Ian Cockbain at first slip on Monday when he had scored eight because Cockbain went on to make his maiden first-class century and was still there at stumps with 121 of Gloucestershire’s 402 for 7.Cockbain, who has so far faced 221 balls and hit 15 fours and a six, and Jon Lewis, who is unbeaten on 41, added 34 in three brief sessions, two before lunch, one after tea, to take their unbroken eighth-wicket stand to 72 and give Gloucestershire maximum batting points.

ESPNCricinfo previews the second semi-final between India and Pakistan

The Preview by Sriram Veera29-Mar-2011Match FactsMarch 30, Mohali
Start time 1430 hours (0900 GMT)Shahid Afridi has been at the forefront of Pakistan’s imperious turnaround from the spot-fixing crisis.•AFP

The Big PictureBeyond the hype this contest can perhaps be best viewed through the prism of the two captains. Shahid Afridi is the passionate, exhibitionist leader who doesn’t mind showing his emotions on the field. He will shout, cajole, plead, laugh, roar and feel every pulsating moment of the contest. It’s exactly what this Pakistan team needs after all those controversies, someone who can remind them of the school-boyish joy that this game can provide.MS Dhoni is the uber-cool captain and, while he can be vocal while dealing with the press, he is almost invisible on the field. Silent nods of appreciation, a quiet word in the ear, calm instructions, a shrug of the shoulder is all you will get from him. And again, it’s what this star-heavy team needs. Someone who can be calm and remind them of the basics of the game.Pakistan – who told their players they could be here in the semi-finals? – almost renews itself with each crisis. That’s how it has been always: Controversies. Paralysis. Rebirth. Success. And more controversies. This was a big tournament for the survival of Misbah-ul-Haq, in the middle of a great comeback. In a sense, the spot-fixing saga and its sordid aftermath was actually a blessing in disguise since it paved the way for his return. For Younis Khan, too, survival instinct, as a batsman facing a dip in form before the tournament, would have helped in dealing with that crisis. Playing his last tournament, Shoaib Akhtar knew this was the time to let his game do the talking. And for that man Afridi, mentally almost perennially young, this was the best chance to dazzle on the biggest stage. He has taken that chance and led the team with great passion. Kamran Akmal lives and breathes in amnesia. Bad memories don’t haunt him – who else could have recovered so well after that nightmarish effort against New Zealand?And yet nothing much has changed with the way they play cricket on the field. It’s still the bowlers who win the games for them. For all that is mercurial about them, Pakistan have lost just one game in this tournament.India have occasionally limped, at times choked, sometimes dazzled, before beating Australia to reach to the semi-finals. The progress card has the bowlers in the red, the batsmen guilty of not finishing the job, and the fielding has always been almost beyond redemption. Their mode of progress should actually have freed them up in some ways. The batsmen must have realised that they can’t try too hard to cover up for their bowlers’ weakness, by trying to pile on too much, with the batting Powerplay pulling the rug from under their feet a few times. The bowlers showed they are learning from the serial hiding by putting up a pretty disciplined effort against Australia. In some ways, the pressure must be off them, as not many would be surprised if they leak 300 runs.It’s the batting India depend on. Is there any chink in it barring those Powerplay debacles? Gautam Gambhir hasn’t been at his personal best – were he playing at his optimum, he would have rendered Virat Kohli superfluous at No. 4. Yet Gambhir’s slightly iffy form has made Kohli vital in that middle order. Prior to the tournament, it was felt that Kohli would be a misfit in the lower order, where Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan would be more dangerous, and that he might be wasted even further up. But Gambhir hasn’t been at his fluent best and India have turned to Kohli to take them through the middle overs. Gambhir has always raised his game against Pakistan and his form will be crucial on Wednesday as it would then give the middle order the licence to attack.Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)India WWLWW
Pakistan WWWLW
Watch out for…Virender Sehwag In the past few games Sehwag has – curiously, for a batsman so wonderfully innovative as him – tried to hit every spinner through the off side. He would back away and try to drive, slice or cut and has fallen a few times in the process. Pakistan might well have a spinner bowling at him early and it will be fascinating to see whether Sehwag will retain that off-side bias or be more inclusive, and open, in his approach.Umar Gul’s yorkers: After Lasith Malinga, Gul has probably the best control over the yorker in world cricket today. There have of course been days when the radar has been awry but more often than not he has got them right. The Indian lower middle order will be fully tested by the yorkers, slower ones and the bouncers that he loves to bowl.Sachin Tendulkar v Abdul Razzaq: Bowlers like Hansie Cronje and Razzaq, more than the Umar Guls and the Shoaib Akhtars, have been reasonably successful against Tendulkar. Cronje used to tease Tendulkar with deliveries shaping away from a length outside off while Razzaq specialises in the opposite: he slides the ball back in, looking for that lbw. He hasn’t always had success, but it will be a mini-battle worth watching. Will Tendulkar opt for all-out attack or will he bat with relative care against Razzaq?Zaheer Khan v Kamran Akmal: Kamran loves to square drive and Zaheer has been able to bend the ball back in to the right-hand batsmen this tournament with the new ball. This contest should be fun.Umar Akmal v spin: India will rely a lot on the slow bowlers during the middle overs, and Umar is the middle-order batsman who loves to attack spin. He has laid into the likes of Daniel Vettori on the tour of New Zealand and is always itching to cut and slog-sweep.Team newsThe signs are that Ashish Nehra is likely to replace Munaf Patel. Even Yusuf Pathan has been sweating it out in the nets raising speculations that he might push R Ashwin hard for a spot in the team. Ashwin has been really good in the games he has played and has added some teeth to the attack while the nature of the track has made India think about bringing in Yusuf.India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Suresh Raina, 8 Yusuf Pathan / R Ashwin, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish NehraPakistan are thinking of playing three seamers. The choice of the third seamer is between Shoaib and Wahab Riaz. Afridi said Shoaib wasn’t 100% fit today but a decision will be taken on the evening preceding the match.Pakistan (probable) 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi (capt), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Saeed Ajmal / Abdur Rehman, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Wahab Riaz / Shoaib Akhtar..It’s a batting pitch but what’s eating up everyone is the dew factor. Read here for a report on the pitch.Heavy storms, lightning and rain lashed Chandigarh late on Tuesday evening, immediately adding a light shroud of doubt over the game. For the whole day there were no signs, not even a hint of rain playing a spoil-sport but around 9PM, there were rumbling sounds of thunder accompanied by high-speed winds. The velocity of the winds were so strong that the heavy iron barricades manning the team hotel were blown away.The weather forecast for Wednesday suggests sunshine during the day with minimal chance of heavy rain. Punjab Cricket Association officials said that they had studied the forecasts for the period ending March 31 and there was “zero precipitation” expected. In simple terms, there were no strong rains expected on the day of the match.Stats and trivia Afridi is the first bowler in World Cup history to take four wickets in a match on four different occasions in a tournament.MS Dhoni is the only wicket-keeper captain who has played in 100 ODIs.Zaheer Khan is the second Indian bowler after Javagal Srinath (44 wickets) to take more than 40 wickets in World Cups.For more stats click hereQuotes”I feel I have been batting really well. It is just that in some situation I could not bat flamboyantly. If you bat at 5, 6 or 7, and if the top order does really well, it does not give opportunity to lower-order batsmen. The last game was an ideal game where I could have got a bit more runs which were needed at that point of time. So form has been a worry it is just that sometimes there were not many opportunities and when there was an opportunity and there were times I was not able to score in a particular game”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O presidente da Ponte Preta, José Armando Abdalla, não esconde o desejo de contratar novos jogadores para reforçar a equipe alvinegra na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. As reformulações no elenco devem ocorrer a partir desta semana.

O mandatário afirmou que o clube está em busca de atletas para o ataque, meio de campo e lateral. Para Abdalla, a Macaca está à procura dejogadores jovens, com velocidade e garra.

– O que estamos avaliando é o transcorrer do campeonato. Vamos ver com calma e sensibilidade. Muitos dos presentes deverão ficar, outros analisaremos com tranqüilidade. Em relação a reforços deveremos trazer dois ou três atacantes e mais um lateral, e depois iremos atrás de mais três peças centrais para dar equilíbrio junto com nossos jovens atletas – disse o dirigente.

Em relação às especulações envolvendo o atual elenco, Abdalla esclareceu que o Atlético-MG fez uma proposta para o lateral Emerson. Além de atuar na Seleção Brasileira Sub-20, Emerson foi titular da Macaca durante todo o Paulistão.

– Chegou, sim, uma proposta do Atlético-MG, mas por enquanto não há um consenso entre as partes. O mercado tem interesse em jovens atletas como ele, Felipe Cardoso e Saraiva, e pensamos em negociar um jogador neste ano para conquistar mais reequilíbrio financeiro. Mas, só aceitaremos se for uma proposta vantajosa que possa realmente readequar as finanças e reforçar a equipe para a Série B – disse o presidente da Ponte.

O mandatário não confirmou se Danilo Barcelos estaria envolvido na negociação com o Galo, por Emerson. O dirigente ressaltou, no entanto, que existe o interesse no atleta.

– Isso é a mídia quem está dizendo. De fato o Danilo interessa para a Ponte, já fomos atrás dele antes e continua existindo o interesse, mas não há nada concreto em relação a isso – disse Abdalla.

Aos 19 anos, Emerson tem se destacado na Macaca. O lateral foi o autor do gol do título do Troféu do Interior, ao acertar uma bomba de primeira no segundo tempo.A expectativa é que a Ponte Preta libere alguns jogadores e feche o ciclo de contratações com pelo menos mais dois nomes.

Rangers find themselves with an excellent group of academy players coming through the ranks at Ibrox at the minute, with Alex Lowry and Charlie McCann really showing their promise.

One of the most talked-about youth prospects is centre-back Leon King, who at just 18 years old, has featured on the Premiership sides bench a few times already this season and could be ready for a step-up next season.

King signed a new long-term deal in January which will take him up to May 2024, with Ross Wilson explaining that he was “delighted” the young defender will continue his journey at Rangers.

The move to offer him a new deal was a smart one, as his performances in the B team haven’t gone unnoticed, he was linked with a move to both Manchester United and Newcastle United before pledging his future to the Gers.

Steven Gerrard was the first to offer hints that King could be a key part of the Ibrox side’s future when the then 16-year-old was included in the first-team squad for their trip to Belgium to face Standard Liege in the Europa League in October 2020.

Since then, he went on to make his official debut against Falkirk in a League Cup tie before featuring for the Gers in league duty against Livingston in May 2021, long after the side had won the Premiership title.

This led Giovanni van Bronckhorst to promote him to the first-team squad in January and this experience will surely stand him in good stead.

The player has all the attributes to become the side’s next Richard Gough, a stalwart at the heart of defence who eventually went on to make over 300 appearances in Rangers blue. With former coach Gerrard labelling him as “superb” then the sky really is the limit for the talented defender.

Van Bronckhorst could save millions by utilising him in the next few seasons in what is an exciting time for the youngster.

AND in other news, Body blow: Van Bronckhorst now set for huge Rangers disaster over £27k-p/w “rock”…

Senior figures in South African cricket have played down reports that allegations of spot-fixing marring Pakistan’s tour of England had made South Africa’s cricketers reluctant to play Pakistan in the UAE next month.”I haven’t heard anyone saying they won’t play,” Andrew Hudson, CSA’s convenor of selectors, told ESPNcricinfo. “We should be announcing the squad next week, and it’s business as usual.”When asked what he would do if, as reported in the UK’s , some of South Africa’s senior players wanted to pull out of the tour, Hudson said, “If players don’t want to play, I’ll be happy to leave them out.”One of those senior players told ESPNcricinfo the South Africans, who are no strangers to the dangers of match-fixing in the wake of the Hansie Cronje scandal, were anxious that action should be taken against Pakistan if the spot-fixing allegations were proved. “As long as the right steps are taken, it will be OK to play against Pakistan,” the player said. “But the ICC needs to eradicate this from the game because it’s hurting all of us.”Despite his strongly expressed views, he ruled out players refusing to tour because of alleged corruption in the game. “I haven’t heard guys saying they won’t tour, and I’m fine to follow whatever advice we get from the ICC and Cricket South Africa.”Gerald Majola, CSA’s chief executive, had told ESPNcricinfo that no player had expressed reservations to the board about participating in the series and there was no reason to call off the tour.South Africa are scheduled to play a Twenty20 international, five ODIs and two Tests against Pakistan during a tour of the UAE starting on October 27 and ending on November 24.

Taking to Twitter, 90min journalist Sean Walsh has made a claim involving Tottenham Hotspur and a possible move for Brentford attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen. 

The lowdown: A joint reunion…

Having made a superb return following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, Eriksen could already be eyeing the next step as the summer transfer window approaches.

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Out of contract at the end of the season (Transfermarkt), the 30-year-old has already been linked with a sensational move back to N17 to rejoin Spurs and in turn, reunite with Antonio Conte who he starred under at Inter Milan.

Sharing news on social media, Walsh has suggested that the move could now be edging closer than ever…

The latest: Walsh drops update

As per his information, the Brentford and Tottenham reporter claims that the north London club are now ‘confident’ of signing Eriksen this summer.

Walsh explained in a Tweet that the move could be dependent on whether Conte remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and whether the Lilywhites reach the UEFA Champions League.

The verdict: Get it done

This is a no-brainer for Spurs as transfer chief Fabio Paratici attempts to strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window.

The 111-cap Denmark international has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Brentford and has directly contributed to three goals in seven Premier League outings for a side that was floundering in February.

Overall, the man hailed as a ‘very special player’ by Spurs insider John Wenham, has earned an outstanding 7.49 average rating since returning to the English top-flight, creating three big chances, making 2.1 key passes per game and taking 1.9 shots a match (Sofascore).

These statistics bear out the star’s continued class and given the perceived stylistic similarities with Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne (Fbref), Tottenham should be desperate to land Eriksen.

In other news: Source: Tottenham edge closer to ‘top signing’, he now really wants to join Conte! Find out more here.

United States of America thrashed Tanzania by 10 wickets in their ICC World Cricket League Division Four match in Navile, reaching the target of 129 in only 12.4 overs.USA openers Sushil Nadkarni and Orlando Baker hammered the Tanzania bowlers all around the park on their way to unbeaten half-centuries. Nadkarni hit three fours and eight sixes in his 68 off 31 deliveries while Baker hit seven boundaries and four sixes in his 63 off 44. Tanzania offspinner Kassim Nassoro went for 47 runs in his three overs.Nassoro was earlier responsible for his team getting to three figures, after they were reduced to 63 for 8 at one stage, USA offspinner Muhammad Ghous being the chief destroyer with figures of 10-2-15-4. Nassoro resisted with an unbeaten 49 off 37 deliveries hitting five fours and three sixes. However, fast bowler Adrian Gordon took the remaining two Tanzanian wickets to finish with 3 for 21 off 8.1 overs.In Pianoro, Nepal won a low-scoring game by five wickets, chasing down the target of 72 in 25 overs.Electing to field, Nepal put in a disciplined bowling effort to dismiss Italy for a paltry 71. Amrit Bhattarai took 3 for 8 off 6.1 overs. Three other Nepal bowlers took two wickets each as six Italy batsmen failed to reach double figures.The Nepal chase had its share of hiccups, with the score reading 55 for 5 at one stage. However, Mahaboob Alam kept his cool to steer Nepal home.The game between Argentina and Cayman Islands was abandoned without a ball being bowled. It will be replayed on Monday.

Everton have appointed Duncan Ferguson as their caretaker manager whilst they search for a full-time head coach to steer the club out of their struggles this season and back into safety, with the side currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 16th, but could the manager they need already be right under their nose?

What’s the word?

Transfer insider, Pete O’Rourke, has given his thoughts on Ferguson’s current position at the club, and where it could lead to if he makes a good impact in the time he has as the current temporary manager.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT:

“It’s in Duncan Ferguson’s hands right now. If he does well, I think there’s a real chance he could get the job.”

Fans will be delighted

The idea that Ferguson could make a really positive impact on the Everton side would be a dream for the fans, as many took to social media wanting the coach to become the manager until at least the end of the season, with one Toffees fan tweeting:

“Duncan Ferguson until the end of the season – he will unite the fanbase. Appoint a new DOF by the summer. Let the DOF decide the next manager. That has to be the plan for Everton.”

Indeed, the Scotsman is a huge fan favourite and legend at the club, playing out most of his career at Goodison with 260 appearances, 68 goals and five assists during his time.

He also won the FA Cup with Everton in 1995, which was the last time the Toffees won a trophy, 27 years ago. He has since taken on a coaching role, outliving six managers so far and remaining an important part of the club to this day, where he is caretaker for the second time in less than three years.

Moshiri needs to make an important decision in recognising the invaluable experience and knowledge of the club that Ferguson offers that money can’t buy.

He has been with the club during the highest highs and in the lowest of lows, with the current situation, one of the lowest points as a relegation battle in the not too distant future is looking a likely scenario if the season continues as it has already.

In the worst case, that could lead Everton to their first ever relegation from the Premier League and their first relegation from top flight football in over 70 years.

Thus, bringing in a manager who gets on well with the supporters is certainly a good idea.

In other news: Moshiri must sign Dele Alli following Doucoure injury

Whisper it quietly, but Surrey may have turned a corner. After a few grim years when the club has plumbed the depths of mediocrity (and then kept digging), there are early signs that the first green shoots of recovery may be poking through.

George Dobell at Chesterfield29-Jun-2010
ScorecardWhisper it quietly, but Surrey may have turned a corner. After a few grim years when the club has plumbed the depths of mediocrity (and then kept digging), there are early signs that the first green shoots of recovery may be poking through. Not only has Surrey’s Twenty20 form improved (after a poor start, they are now fourth in the South Group), but they’re second in their Clydesdale Bank 40 group and here have shown that their dire position in the championship is likely to improve.Perhaps such optimism should be tempered. There was a time, not so long ago, when a dominant performance against Derbyshire – and a weakened Derbyshire at that – would have been nothing less than expected.Not anymore. Last season Surrey won just a single championship game, while they reached the halfway stage this year rooted to the foot of the championship table. The days when they could approach any fixture with complacency are long gone.They are well on top in this game. They had a lead of 154 after both sides had batted once and, but for an injury to one of their seamers, would surely have enforced the follow-on. Still, with the pitch showing increasing signs of uneven bounce, their lead of 204 going into the third day already looks imposing.That Derbyshire are still in the game at all is largely due to the efforts of Wayne Madsen and Lee Goddard.Coming together with their side reeling at 81 for 6, the pair added 137 in 36 overs for the seventh wicket, with Madsen recording his third century of the campaign and Goddard his first half-century. The next highest contribution was extras, with 16.For some, the likes of Madsen will always represent everything that is wrong in English cricket. South African born, he is 26-years-old and currently qualifying to play for England. While international cricket may prove a step too far for him, he looks a decent county player. A tendency to plant his front foot will always make him an lbw candidate, but he leaves the ball very well, drives neatly and has admirable powers of concentration.He needed this innings, though. He had scored just 77 runs in his previous seven championship innings but, while his colleagues paid the price for their fallibility outside off stump, Madsen showed the virtue of restraint.Goddard hasn’t enjoyed the best of form, either. The 27-year-old, who returned to Derbyshire from Durham in search of first-team cricket at the end of last season, lost his place to Tom Poynton a few weeks ago. Here, however, he neatly compiled the third half-century of his first-class career and seemed to have taken his side to within an inch of avoiding the follow-on.Both Goddard and Madsen may feel that the manner of their departure undid some of their good work, however. While the reverse sweep has become an accepted part of the modern game, neither man had played the shot until the ball that dismissed them and, in other circumstances, falling five short of the follow-on mark would have had match-defining consequences.The key moment of the day came earlier, however. Tim Linley had threatened to run through the Derbyshire batting with a well-controlled spell of medium-fast seam bowling, but suddenly pulled-up midway through his run-up and left the field in obvious pain. He was later diagnosed with ligament damage and won’t bowl again in the match.It was a completely different game after his departure. While Andre Nel and Chris Tremlett bowled pretty well, the support seamers – Stewart Walters and Younis Khan – allowed Goddard and Madsen to settle in with some comfort.Until that point, Surrey had been utterly dominant. Linley, with 4 for 13, expertly exploited a small ridge on the pitch and, at one stage, claimed 3 for 3 in 15 balls. Though he won London CC’s ‘search for a star’ bowling competition in 2005, Linley is never likely to be a star in the Surrey dressing room. He’s not blessed with great pace or outrageous skill and, on the flattest of pitches, can look a little toothless.He’s a useful player, though. Here he landed the ball on the perfect length and gained enough bounce and movement to trouble all the batsmen. As Chris Adams, Surrey’s cricket manager, put it: “maybe he’ll never get the best in the world out, but he’ll bowl up hill and into the wind all day. He reminds me of Mark Robinson.”Garry Park was undone by bounce, prodding outside off stump, Greg Smith lost his off and middle stumps when he missed one that nipped back, Chesney Hughes edged one angled across him and Wes Durston simply missed a straight one. Earlier Chris Rogers was also a victim of bounce, flashing a catch to point, while Robin Peterson edged to slip and Steffan Jones was pinned on the foot by a yorker.Nel looked dangerous with the new ball and delivered more overs than anyone, while there was an encouraging display from Tremlett, too. While he didn’t quite maintain the requisite control, he did generate decent pace and, at times, alarming bounce. He gave the impression of a man just coming to the boil. Perhaps his, and his new club’s, best days may be yet to come.

After encouraging signs and a cricket-filled 2009, the women once again join the men at the World Twenty20 – a tournament that will be another test of the sustainability of the women’s game

Nishi Narayanan04-May-2010

The women once again join the men at the World Twenty20 after encouraging signs and a cricket-filled 2009. Like last year, the semis and finals for men and women will be played on the same day at the same venues. While it’s not likely that there will be full houses for the curtain-raisers (the women’s matches played ahead of the men’s), the international women’s teams will have the chance to wow a new audience.Only England and Sri Lanka have toured the West Indies before and both have played there within the last 12 months. But in Twenty20, familiarity with the conditions hardly gives an edge over the opponents. However defending champions England remain favourites because of their strong batting line-up.On the whole, the tournament will be another test of the sustainability of the women’s game. After last year’s World Cups, England, the defending champions in ODIs and Twenty20, travelled extensively and they remain favourites. After beating Australia 4-0 in ODIs at home in June-July, England went to West Indies in November and lost both the one-day and Twenty20 series 2-1. Then earlier this year, they visited India where they won the ODIs and the Twenty20 series. Australia and New Zealand played the Rose Bowl Series in February 2010 – New Zealand won the two Twenty20s and Australia won the three ODIs. Pakistan and South Africa have not played any internationals since the World Twenty20 last year.AustraliaTheir experienced captain Karen Rolton retired in January this year and the squad is further weakened by the absence of wicketkeeper Jodie Fields. Captain Alex Blackwell is leading a fairly young and inexperienced side, barring the 33-year-old batting mainstay Shelley Nitschke.Watch out for: Alyssa Healy, the niece of former Australian keeper Ian Healy, who has replaced Fields in the side. Healy won the Rising Star award for New South Wales in March this year.EnglandNo such worries for England who welcome back their openers Claire and Sarah Taylor, and spinner Holly Colvin who missed the India tour. They have also won their two warm-ups – against India and Sri Lanka – with ease and look virtually unstoppable.Watch out for: Claire Taylor, with whose return England look indomitable. She is expected to top the run-scoring charts with ease.IndiaThough their previous two campaigns – in Australia and England – were disappointing, India looked a better side during their home series against England. Their main batsman Mithali Raj is in form and they have a few hitters down the order. But they’ll have to play out of their skins to overcome New Zealand and England.Watch out for: Left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana who took 18 wickets (12 in 15 ODIs and six in three Twenty20s) against England in February-March. She flights the ball well, gets good turn and can slip in a few quicker ones to trouble batsmen on the slow West Indies wickets.New ZealandTwo World Cup finals in three months and two defeats will be stinging New Zealand badly. It’s more a question of settling the nerves than of developing strategies for this talented side.Watch out for: Lucy Doolan bowls offspin and is a useful batsman in a sticky situation. In a line-up of big hitters, Doolan sneaks in the quick singles and twos.PakistanWith no proper matches since June last year, it is hard to say how Pakistan will do in the tournament. They surprised everybody with a sixth place finish in the 50-over World Cup last year and have already beaten West Indies in a warm-up game in St Kitts. Pakistan will be aiming for fifth place this time.Watch out for: Urooj Mumtaz who took 2 for 14 in the warm-up match against West Indies, can choke the runs with her legbreaks. South AfricaUnlike Pakistan, South Africa have shown few signs that they will grow out of their minnow status any time soon. Their best hope is to avoid a last-place finish.Watch out for: Cri-zelda Brits has propped up South Africa’s batting line-up for more than two years now. Trisha Chetty’s unbeaten 65 off 54 balls against India in the warm-up was another encouraging sign for the side.Sri LankaThey lost to West Indies in the bilateral series preceding this tournament but can challenge them in Twenty20s. The battle for fifth place will be between West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.Watch out for: Opening batsman Dedunu Silva can score quickly and give her side a solid platform to build on.West IndiesLike Pakistan, West Indies have surprised their opponents from time to time and have some aggressive batsmen in their line-up. Even if home advantage means little, they’ll have the home support and will be eager to make it to the semis. But since they are grouped with Australia and England, it looks unlikely.Watch out for: Stafanie Taylor, an explosive top-order batsman who top-scored in the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka last month. She scored a half-century in each game and piled up 162 runs, 101 more than the next highest run-getter.