Lanning predicts 'most highly skilled and competitive' World T20 ever

Meg Lanning will lead tournament favourites Australia into action in their first game of the tournament on Friday, when they face Pakistan in Guyana, and she is not anticipating an easy ride

Australia captain Meg Lanning expects the Women's World T20 in the Caribbean to be the best ever in terms of the standard of cricket on display.

Lanning will lead the tournament favourites into action in their first game of the tournament on Friday, when they face Pakistan in Guyana, and she is not anticipating an easy ride.

In addition to the Aussies, England, India, South Africa and New Zealand all go into the competition with high expectations, making the outcome somewhat tricky to predict.

^{Meg Lanning captains Australia in the Caribbean}

“Having really high-quality international players playing in the same competition improves the standard,” Lanning said.

“I think the fact that a lot of the teams here have been playing more cricket as well, with the ICC Women’s Championship (has helped), the more the countries play the better everyone gets.

“So there’s no doubt in my mind this will be the most highly skilled and competitive T20 World Cup we’ve seen and it’s going to be great to watch.”

Meanwhile, Lanning will have Jess Jonassen available for selection for the start of the tournament.

^{Jess Jonassen is fit and available to Australia}

Jonassen has recovered from the knee surgery she underwent in September, news her captain described as "massive".

She is a world-class bowler who has performed over a long period of time.

"To have her come in at the back end of Malaysia was a good boost for the group.

"She has done a lot of hard work to get here, it's great to have her and it gives us options with the ball which is great."

WORLD T20 HUB