A star from each country: 8 must-watch players in the WWC

The wait is finally over as the ICC Women's World Cup arrives. Eight teams packed with seasoned campaigners and rising stars, the 12th edition of the mega event is geared to captivate audiences with all the talent on offer. Although it was a daunting task to narrow down the players to watch, but here are the eight excellent cricketers, one curated from each country.
 

Amelia Kerr; New Zealand: This 21-year-old, since debuting in 2016, has taken the world by storm with both bat and ball. A prolific opening batter and holder of the record innings score of 232 runs, Amelia packs punches with some deadly leg spin action as well. A generational talent, currently the fourth-ranked all-rounder, is set to dazzle the world cup stage. 

Hayley Matthews; West Indies: With the 2021 Player of the Year nominee in the ranks, who is also the 13th ranked bowler, the 2013 runners-up will pin their hopes on Hayley on the batting front as well alongside her off-breaks. The 23-year-old, who has been impressive since her debut in 2014, possesses a wealth of experience and is an asset for any side.   

Rumana Ahmed; Bangladesh: Currently the 14th best all-rounder in terms of ranking, Rumana has been one of the mainstays of Bangladesh for around a decade since her debut. A handy leg spinner and a dependable middle order batter, the 30-year-old right-hander thrives under pressure. Thus, the success of the Tigresses' maiden world cup campaign heavily relies on Rumana's shoulders. 

Mithali Raj; India: The 39-year-old captain of India, who is the second-ranked batter and the only active player this tournament with thousand-plus runs in world cup history, will aim for the elusive world cup for her country. Having led India in becoming runners-up in 2005 and 2017, will she be third time lucky this time in what could possibly be her swansong? 

Fatima Sana; Pakistan: Primarily a pacer and one of the best all-rounders of the girls in green, 20-year-old Fatima bagged the 2021 Emerging Player of the Year award. As someone who grew up playing cricket with her brothers in the streets of Karachi, Fatima idolises James Anderson from the men's circuit and aspires to be the fastest bowler in the women's game.

Tammy Beaumont; England: The third-ranked batter and the 2021 Player of the Year nominee, 30-year-old Tammy needs no introduction as she invariably sets the tone for the defending champions while opening the innings. Can the previous world cup's Player of the Tournament repeat the feat this time? 

Alyssa Healy; Australia: Currently the top-ranked batter and one of the all-time best, Alyssa stands out even in a star-studded Australia team, hot-favourites to extend their tally of the most number of world cup triumphs. The 31-year-old, who boasts a near run-a-ball strike-rate as an opener, is the best in business for giving flying starts. 

Lizelle Lee; South Africa: 2021's highest run-scorer and the worthy Player of the Year winner, Lizelle is the cream of the crop for South Africa. The 29-year-old, ranked sixth among batters, is another opening batter with the potential to hog the spotlight in the mega event.    

* All rankings and awards mentioned above are given by the International Cricket Council (ICC) based on One Day International cricket.