WELLINGTON, March 2, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - The Women's Cricket World Cup begins
on Friday in New Zealand after a year's delay because of the pandemic and
with Australia favourites to lift the trophy.

   Here, AFP Sport showcases five players to watch when the 50-over
extravaganza gets under way:

   - Ellyse Perry (AUS) -

   Ellyse Perry's status as one of the game's greats is already secure, but
the all-rounder has a point to prove in New Zealand after her shock axing
from Australia's Twenty20 squad.

   The 31-year-old has rewritten the record books since her debut in 2007,
claiming five T20 World Championships, one Cricket World Cup in 2013 and
numerous domestic honours.

   She's also been named World Player of the Year three times and World
Player of the Decade 2011-2020 in both ODI and T20 formats.

   Yet selectors turned to a crop of emerging all-rounders for January's T20
series against England and Perry will be keen to use the ODI showcase to
prove she is far from a spent force.

   - Amelia Kerr (NZL) -

  The host nation has renowned power hitters in Sophie Devine and Suzie
Bates, but Amelia Kerr is the White Ferns' form player heading into the World
Cup.

   Kerr was barely 16 when she made her international debut and expectations
soared when she blasted an unbeaten 232 against Ireland in 2018, still the
highest-ever women's ODI score.

   She took a break from cricket last year, revealing "bubble" life on the
road during the pandemic had affected her mental health.

   The 21-year-old has returned refreshed and is playing the best cricket of
her life, scoring 353 runs at an average of 117.7 in a player-of-the-series
performance against India.

   "Now we really are seeing what she is capable of... in the women's game,
she's probably the best player we've ever had," former New Zealand all-
rounder Grant Elliott said.  - Bismah Maroof (PAK) - Bismah Maroof thought
she would have to retire after giving birth last August, instead she's
captaining Pakistan at the World Cup with her baby daughter in tow.

   Maroof, 30, is the first player to take advantage of Pakistan cricket's
parental support policy, which allowed her to bring her mother to New Zealand
with her to look after baby Fatima.

   "The introduction of the maternal policy has made the game more inclusive
for women," said the left-handed batter, who has earned 108 caps in an
international career spanning 17 years.

   "It is a great initiative, which will definitely see more girls follow
their passion."

  - Shafali Verma (IND) -

   India's teen batting sensation Shafali Verma has been hailed as a "rock
star" by former men's opener Virender Sehwag for her dashing performances at
the top of the order.

   Verma enjoyed a stellar 2021, scoring 96 and 63 in a drawn Test with
England, then propelling India to the final of the Women's T20 World Cup in
Australia.

   It was a far cry from the 18-year-old Verma's experiences as a child, when
she cut her hair short so she could play cricket with the boys in the
conservative northern state of Haryana, where women are not encouraged to
take part in sport.

   Captain Mithali Raj believes Verma, with reigning Women's Player of the
Year Smriti Mandhana at the other end, can help India lift the title after
they finished runners-up at the 2017 tournament and last year's T20 event.

   "She is one of the world's rising stars and I am backing her to have more
impressive performances for India throughout the tournament with guidance and
support from the stylish Smriti Mandhana," said Raj.

   - Shabnim Ismail (RSA) -

   Pace bowler Shabnim Ismail is a major reason why South Africa are regarded
as World Cup long shots, despite never progressing beyond the semi-finals
previously.

   The South Africans enter the tournament ranked second in the world after
winning their past five ODI series, including against India and Pakistan.

   Ismail, the country's leading ODI wicket taker and fourth internationally
with 164 victims, took four wickets to seal a 2-1 series win over India in
Johannesburg last month.

   The 33-year-old, nicknamed "The Demon" is regarded as the fastest bowler
in women's cricket, consistently topping 120kph (75mph).

   Ismail cites the uncompromising aggression of Andre Nel and Dale Steyn as
her inspiration, saying even her teammates are sometimes intimidated by her
intensity.

   "In the South African team, a lot of girls are scared to face me," she
told Cricinfo last month.