After Australia's shock defeat to India in the tournament curtain-raiser, a tantalising double-header at one of the quickest grounds in world cricket could make or break four campaigns
Thailand will tomorrow become the 20th nation to compete at an ICC T20 World Cup when Sornnarin Tippoch leads her side into the field at the WACA, one of the most revered amphitheatres in world sport, with 2016 champions West Indies a formidable opposition.
But, if Tippoch's charges are to turn their fairytale qualification run into a tournament campaign where they take down more established opponents on the game's biggest stage, there could perhaps be no better opportunity than the one they have at the very beginning.
The West Indies, captained by 2016's player of the tournament Stafanie Taylor, arrive having played just one fixture of any kind since falling 5-0 to India in a T20 series on home turf in November – and the result there was an eighth consecutive defeat to Harmanpreet Kaur's side, who successfully defended just 107 in Tuesday's warm-up meeting at Brisbane's Allan Border Field.
The successes of spinners Poonam Yadav (3-20) and Deepti Sharma (1-12) against the Caribbean batters will be of particular interest to the Thai bowling unit, whose own off-spin spearhead Nattaya Boochatham was more prolific in T20 international cricket (40 wickets at 6.17) than any other bowler – male or female – has been in a calendar year since the format's introduction in 2004. Suleeporn Laomi, a leg-spinner who has Australian experience courtesy of ICC and Big Bash development schemes, is second on that list with 37 wickets in the same year.
However, the West Indies boast immense explosive potential in the likes of Taylor and Hayley Matthews, and it may take just one batter striking comfortably to take the game away from a Thai top order with extremely limited experience against elite bowling attacks.
Pace bowling is also one of the team's greatest strengths, particularly as they welcome back Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman after injuries restricted their availability last time out, and an international debut for 20-year-old quick Cherry-Ann Fraser against the tournament newcomers is not out of the question.
Hayley Matthews leapt into the limelight at the 2016 tournament
Saturday's double-header in Perth will be the first ever women's T20 internationals to take place at the WACA, and only its second day of any international cricket since England's men were rolled by an innings at the hands of Australia during the 2017-18 Ashes.
New Zealand's women were the visitors exactly one year ago for the ground's previous flagship outing, and – despite its reputation as a hard and fast wicket – it was Australia's orthodox spinner Jess Jonassen who clinched a five-run victory for the hosts, with nerveless bowling at the death producing three wickets in her last 10 deliveries.
However, this time around the White Ferns will be without their leading run-maker from that occasion, as allrounder and then-captain Amy Satterthwaite – who fell eight short of a seventh ODI century during the penultimate over of that fixture – last month gave birth to her first child with teammate Lea Tahuhu, and is earmarking next year's 50-over World Cup for her return.
Instead, for first-hand experience of the ground ahead of the evening clash with Sri Lanka, the team may turn towards veteran wicketkeeper Katey Martin – who was on duty behind the sticks for Melbourne Stars during November's WBBL when Sydney Sixers openers Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy set a tournament record partnership of 199.
New Zealand return to the WACA one year after playing in its most recent international fixture
Sri Lanka claimed the tournament's first major upset on Tuesday as they took down England by 10 wickets in a warm-up clash in Brisbane, inspired by captain Chamari Atapattu's unbeaten 78 from 50 deliveries.
Though the 15-a-side nature of the unofficial fixture means it does not count towards the record books, the display serves simultaneously as a stark reminder of Atapattu's immense abilities and unfulfilled talents.
After more than a decade in the side, the 30-year-old is by some margin her country's leading short-form run-scorer, and her batting average in the format is bettered only by stalwart teammate Dilani Manodara among the 47 women to have featured for Sri Lanka since they debuted at the 2009 World Twenty20 – but that figure still stands at a meagre 19.12, paired with a sub-100 strike rate and only two 50-plus scores in 79 attempts.
As this week's hatchet job against England's bowlers displays, there is no question whatsoever of what Atapattu can do – and a long-awaited maiden century from 60 balls against Australia last year will surely have boosted her confidence no end, even if it still came in defeat.
With her side very much in the same boat as opponents New Zealand as outsiders for tournament honours, Australia's stunning defeat to India on Friday could well throw Group A wide open and offer a renewed opportunity to gather momentum and kickstart a charge to one of the qualification spots.
But, with Sophie Devine's squad littered with WBBL experience – not least in the captain herself, who was fourth in wickets and first in runs during the 2019 tournament – the pressure of Saturday's outing under lights could easily prove a challenge too far for a patchy Sri Lanka.
The side has never progressed beyond group stage action in the six previous editions of the tournament, and it is a grim reality that they will need their captain to be the one to step up to the challenge if that ignominious record is to change.
For full tournament fixtures, squads, match reports, reactions, player profiles and more, check out The Cricketer's Women's T20 World Cup hub
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