ICC Women's CWC 2022 | Final: AUS 'W' vs ENG 'W' | Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, Fantasy XI

After 28 league matches and two intriguing semi-finals, the focus now shifts to the climax of the 12th edition of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. The two old foes, Australia Women’s and England Women’s, will fight for the silverware until the very last ball of the final is bowled. The garden city of Christchurch is all ready to witness this neck-to-neck combat on April 3, 2022.

Earlier in the 3rd match of the league stage, these teams met at Seddon Park. It also saw two brilliant centuries from each side. Rachael Haynes for the Aussies Women, while Natalie Sciver scored it for the English Women side. A high scoring thriller ended with a 12-runs win for the Australian Women's side.

The Aussie women's team will be the favourites to win the final and clinch another World Cup. They have had a dream campaign so far and have been invincible. First, they won all seven league matches and topped the league standings. Then, they brushed aside the West Indies Women's team in a one-sided semi-final. It was down to Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes's record-breaking opening wicket stand that swept away the underdogs. 

The Meg Lanning-led side has no big worries ahead of the final. Lanning said that the fitness of injured Ellyse Perry would be checked just a day ahead of the big game. If the star all-rounder is fit, then it's good news. Rest, they have all the bases covered. They have the big match players in their gun line-up who can easily take the game away from their opponents. They will be disappointed if they can't cross the line in the final after the way they have played in the tournament so far. 

Speaking of their opponents, defending champions England women's team are the first side to make it to the final after losing an initial couple of games. They had to play do-or-die cricket to reach this stage. After losing three consecutive matches initially, they have made a strong statement by coming back strong to win the next four games in the league stages to secure third place in the points table. With that momentum, it was easy for the English Women to surpass the challenge from South Africa Women in the semis.

The Heather Knight-led team is a side that never gives up. Danielle Wyatt and the senior duo of Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole coming back into form boosted the Brits. The leading wicket-taker in the tournament Sophie Ecclestone, will be the key player to watch out for. Sophia Dunkley has played some vital innings in the competition so far. But some concerns are with the form of opener Tammy Beaumont and their other two key players, Knight and Sciver, who started off the tournament on a high with the bat. They will go with the same side that won them the final spot.

These two sides last met in a Women's World Cup final, way back in 1988 at Melbourne (MCG), where the hosts proved to be too hot to handle for the 'Three Lionesses'.

Australia Women are eyeing their seventh World Cup while the English team are waiting for their fifth World Cup in their cabinet. Thus, we are all set to witness the Grand Finale of this mega tournament.

Match Details

Australia Women vs England Women- The Final

Date and Time- April 3, 2022, 6:30 AM IST

Venue- Hagley Oval, Christchurch  

Broadcast- Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar

Pitch Report

The pitch will be a new one that will be used for the final. The Hagley Oval surface will be seamer-friendly, and also with short boundaries, batters will target to score quickly. Overall, a terrific sporting wicket and is expected to be a high-scoring finale. The average score batting first is around the 275s. Toss-winning captain might bat first as putting a score on the board first will add to a greater advantage in the big matches.

Weather Conditions

The expected weather conditions at Hagley Oval is precisely what every cricket lover would have hoped for. There is a clear blue sky with the sun out in the afternoon, while a clear night sky in the evening. The temperature will hover between 14-17 degrees Celsius.

Squads

Australia Women

Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy(wk), Meg Lanning(c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Amanda Wellington.

England Women

Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Heather Knight(c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones(wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Charlotte Dean, Anya Shrubsole, Natasha Farrant, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Emma Lamb, Freya Davies.

Probable Playing XI

Australia Women

Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy(wk), Meg Lanning(c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland/Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

England Women

Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Heather Knight(c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones(wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Charlotte Dean, Anya Shrubsole. 

CE Fantasy XI

Danielle Wyatt, Natalie Sciver, Sophia Dunkley, Charlotte Dean, Heather Knight, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney

Captain- Meg Lanning

Vice-Captain- Sophie Ecclestone