A group of youngsters with tremendous potential and a fantastic comeback story
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2020Annabel Sutherland (Australia)
She was uncapped when called up to Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, the selectors not afraid to take a punt on her. On her debut, against England in the recent tri-series, she hauled Australia into a Super Over with some powerful striking, 22 off 11 balls, and it was probably a mistake that she wasn’t used for the extra over with the ball: Sutherland can hit a splice-jarring length and the feeling is that there are a few more kphs to come as she continues to develop. When conditions allow, Australia won’t be afraid to go after opposition with pace at this tournament and Sutherland could play a role there. Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh)
After Salma Khatun, Jahanara Alam and Rumana Ahmed, Bangladesh can rely upon Nigar Sultana to deliver for them. Nigar is Bangladesh’s highest run-getter in T20Is in the last two years with 604 runs at 24.16. Her last innings in this format was a century against Maldives in the South Asian Games in December. She could become a surprise package because, according to many, she is strong technically, and can survive strong bowling attacks. Sarah Glenn (England)
Legspinner Glenn earned her maiden call-up for England only in November, for both limited-overs series against Pakistan in Malaysia. She caught the selectors’ attention playing for Loughborough Lightning in last year’s Kia Super League, especially when she returned 3 for 25 against Lancashire Thunder, all three strikes those of top-order batters. Among them was Harmanpreet Kaur, bowled for a golden duck. Glenn has claimed nine wickets from six T20Is since, including 3 for 28 from her four overs in the tie with Australia, which England won in the Super Over. She also took 4 for 18 from eight overs in an ODI against Pakistan, just her third international outing. Shafali Verma goes downtown•Getty ImagesShafali Verma (India)
Had the Australians featured in the 2019 Women’s T20 Challenge, chances are that Verma, only 15 years old at the time, may not have been a straightforward inclusion in the starting XI, let alone pip England’s Danni Wyatt to open for Mithali Raj’s side in the three-team competition. The buzz Verma whipped up on that May afternoon in Jaipur with her flamboyant 31-ball 34 hasn’t subsided. Raj’s T20I retirement and Verma’s power-driven, fearless strokeplay put an end to India’s search for a stable, quick-firing opening partner for Smriti Mandhana as she became India’s youngest T20I debutant in the home series against South Africa in October. The following month, on the tour of the Caribbean, Verma became the youngest Indian – male or female – to score a T20I half-century. Although still somewhat vulnerable to bouncers, when Verma gets cracking, even a feted pace attack as Australia’s can seem toothless. Jess Kerr (New Zealand)
Her younger sister Amelia has been impressing with her all-round performances over the last few years, and now, it’s Jess’ chance to shine in the international circuit. She made a splash in the latest edition of the women’s Super Smash by picking up 20 wickets in 11 matches – the most in a season – breaking Amelia’s record of 19 to help Wellington Blaze to the title. That paved the way for her international call-up and the 22-year-old medium pacer made her debut in the home series against South Africa. She was part of just two ODIs and two T20Is in the series but she made an impression with her frugal spells, especially in the fourth T20I where she finished with figures of 2 for 17 in New Zealand’s win. Syeda Aroob Shah (Pakistan)
A 16-year-old legspinner from Karachi, Aroob started out as a net bowler and broke into the Pakistan emerging team only last year after a productive Women’s One-Day Championship, where she finished as the leading wicket-taker with 14 strikes in five matches at 12.36. She was elevated to the international arena soon after and handed a debut during the home series against Bangladesh where she made a mark with 2 for 37. Despite limited success against England in Malaysia, she is regarded as a major hope for the future. As well as the conventional legbreak, she bowls a very good flipper. Nondumiso Shangase
At just 21, allrounder Shangase not only found herself captaining the KwaZulu Natal women’s side and being accepted in South Africa’s national academy, but also becoming the first black African woman to score a century for her province. The following year, she made her debut for the South African senior side in a T20I series against Pakistan and six months’ later, was rewarded with her first trip abroad on a tour to India. Though she bats low down in the order and is used primarily as an offspinner, there’s no doubt she could find herself promoted, especially in a tournament where flexibility is key to success. Shangase is a natural athlete, having played netball and football at school, before choosing cricket. Kavisha Dilhari attempts a sweep•Getty ImagesKavisha Dilhari (Sri Lanka)
It is her fearlessness at age 19 that has caught the Sri Lankan cricket establishment’s attention. Hailing from the same southern village as Lasith Malinga, Dilhari is primarily an offspinner, though one with serious batting potential as well. She excelled at the age-group levels, and although she’s only played ten internationals so far, she has turned heads with her brave bowling and strokemaking, once executing an outstanding over-the-head scoop against India in a tight match situation. She is among the young players that Sri Lanka has invested heavily in, in the squad for this tournament. Chanida Sutthiruang (Thailand)
Named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year, Sutthiruang has been central to Thailand’s success in last year’s qualifying tournament as she was the leading wicket-taker with 12 at 5.66, which included figures of 4 for 13 against Namibia when Thailand defended 99. A product of the Under-19 programme, she made her debut in 2012 and has become a key cog in the team. Overall, in her T20I career, she has taken 42 wickets at 8.73. She is known for her ability to gain substantial swing with the new ball. Lee-Ann Kirby (West Indies)
At 32, Lee-Ann Kirby isn’t a young gun, and made her debut as far back as in 2008 – a year before the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup was played. She neither batted or bowled on debut, and was later overlooked for 12 years. But, of late for Trinidad & Tobago in domestic cricket, she has been pulling off the double duty of opening both the batting and bowling. In June 2018, she claimed 2 for 21 with her medium-pace and struck a 31-ball 46 to thump Windward Islands. She has extended her rich domestic form in the Courts Women’s T20 Grand Slam. Kirby had told that she had given up hopes of an international recall after being ignored for over a decade. Now that she’s finally back in the mix, can she make it count?
