ICC Women's CWC 2022 | SWOT Analysis: West Indies, South Africa & Bangladesh

The biggest carnival of the Women’s game is about to get underway. Debutants Bangladesh will look to make an everlasting impact on the biggest stage, whereas South Africa would love to go a few steps further this time around. The Proteas have finished in the top four twice in 2000 and 2017. Meanwhile, the West Indies reached the final in 2013 that they ended up losing and would be aiming to do better this time and lift their maiden title.

Here’s a SWOT Analysis of the three of the dark horses in this year's Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

West Indies

Squad: Stefanie Taylor (c), Anisa Mohammed (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams

Strength: The trio of Taylor, Dottin and Matthews in their batting order is the major strength of the Women in Maroon. 

Taylor has scored 5147 runs in 137 ODI’s and has also taken 148 wickets with her right-arm spin. The West Indies all-rounder is amongst the top-10 run-scorers in the world since the 2017 final, apart from being the seventh on the ICC’s all-rounder standings. 

Dottin is a powerful top-order batter who has scored over 1,000 runs since the 2017 final and has two centuries since the start of November 2021. 

Matthews is already a seasoned campaigner with 61 caps to her name. The 23-year-old has scored over 1,500 runs with 68 wickets to her name. She might not be in the best of form with the bat but the Windies will hope she produces the goods when the going gets tough in the World Cup.

Weakness: The Windies women's team lacks batting depth. Apart from Taylor, Dottin and Matthews, only Kycia Knight and Rashada Williams have scored more than 200 runs since the start of 2021. Even the two of them haven’t been consistent enough.

Opportunity: Knight and Williams have shown glimpses of their talent over the past few years and it is time for them to step up and help out the dream trio of Taylor, Dottin and Matthews on their road to glory.

Threat: The Windies look a bit deflated in the seam department. Apart from Dottin (who rarely bowls these days), Connell and Selman are the only pacers with experience of playing a stage like World Cups. 

The duo has contributed 108 wickets in 139 matches. While Aaliyah Alleyne, Cherry Ann Fraser and Chanelle Henry combined have 19 wickets in 35 matches.

South Africa

Squad: Sune Luus (c), Chloe Tryon (vc), Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Maria Klaas, Mignon du Preez, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Tumi Sekhukhune

Strength: The pace attack of the South African team is their strength heading into the pinnacle tournament. 

Shabnim Ismail is one of the most fearsome seamers, she is fourth in the all-time ODI wicket-takers list. She will lead the pace attack which also features Kapp who has 200 international wickets to her name. 

Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas are the other two experienced seamers in the team. Whereas, Tumi Sekhukhune is the youngest seamer in the team. 

Weakness: Dane van Niekerk the full-time skipper of the Proteas has been ruled out of the tournament. She will be a major miss and due to her absence, the run-scoring burden will now fall upon Lee, Wolvaardt and Kapp. 

There is a lot of uncertainty about who bats at what position and the batting line-up is far from being settled. 

Opportunity: Tazmin Brits is one of their most inexperienced players. She made her 50-over debut last year and has a lot to prove in the World Cup. Brits need to justify their selection and ensure that the Proteas don’t miss Nadine de Klerk, who is just selected as a travelling reserve.

Threat: The Proteas have some of the best seam bowlers going around but they lack a proper specialist spinner which might be a major issue heading into a tournament that will be played on wickets that have seen a lot of cricket already.

Bangladesh

Squad: Nigar Sultana (c), Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Lata Mondal, Sobhana Mostary, Fariha Trisna, Suraiya Azmin, Sanjida Akter Meghla

Strength: Bangladesh’s strength in their quality spin attack. Fatima Khatun and Rumana Ahmed are two ace leg-spinners who have done fairly well for their national team. 

Meanwhile, Salma Khatun, the off-spinner, and Nahida Akter, the left-arm spinner, are the two traditional spinners who depend more on flighting the ball to purchase drift off any surface.

Weakness: The Bangladesh women’s team has never played a match in New Zealand before the warm-ups and it would be a big concern. Their batters might find it difficult to handle the extra bounce and movement. 

For instance, in the 2018 T20 World Cup, the pace of Deandra Dottin blew them away, hopefully, they are better prepared this time around.

Opportunity: Bangladesh have been reliant on their spin unit for years now and it is time for the seamers to step up in the New Zealand conditions. Suraiya Azmin is a great young seam option for them and she might be their x-factor in the kiwi conditions.

Threat: Bangladesh’s bowling unit on paper looks full of variety but their seamers are not the quickest and the majority of their spinners are not really big turners of the ball. On flat tracks and short boundaries in New Zealand, things might turn out to be a nightmare for their bowling unit.

It is going to be interesting how these power-packed lineups will complete in the coveted tournament, starting from 4 March 2022, whereas the best in the world will be competing for the prestigious silverware.