FAIRY THAI-L

Thailand have already won, really. They are proof of the widely-held belief that the door to the top table of the women’s game is open to those beyond the traditional status quo.

They have come from nowhere and will be the second team of many once the tournament gets underway. There will be intrigue aplenty at what they are able to achieve. All told, they will be the story of the competition.

Nattaya Boochatham took more wickets than anyone in T20Is in 2019. Don’t underestimate them. What they have done in the last decade is unprecedented.

ON A ROLL

Thailand won 17 consecutive T20Is between 2018 and 2019, before that run was ended by Scotland.

The fairy-tale continued, however, with qualification secured by beating Papua New Guinea in Dundee in September.

RECENT RESULTS (most recent last - to Feb 1): LWWLLWWWWL

BIG-STAGE DEBUT

Thailand arrive in Australia unhurt by past failings, unblemished by old scars. They are unlikely debutants who will have nothing to fear.

They will be the first side to make their T20 World Cup bow since 2014, when Ireland and Bangladesh appeared for the first time.

Ireland remain without a win from 13 attempts. Can Thailand get that particular monkey off their back?

WORLD CUP RECORD

Debut