Five players to watch at the Women's T20 World Cup

As the women's T20 World Cup gets ready to start in South Africa on Friday, here are five cricketers to watch out for.

South Africa: Marizanne Kapp

When Dane van Niekerk was cut from the squad there was a fear that her wife, Marizanne Kapp, might also step away.

But the 33-year-old stayed with the team which, realistically, is only likely to progress from a group that includes Australia and New Zealand, if she delivers.

Kapp has had her problems, not least four bouts of Covid, but she is a class all-rounder with a Test hundred under her belt as well as a lorryload of wickets.

She was South Africa's standout performer in last year's ODI World Cup with 203 runs and 12 wickets.

India: Shafali Verma

At the end of January, Shafali Verma led India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup. Barely two weeks later, the 19-year-old batter is back in South Africa to help India in their bid to win the women's T20.

As a child she disguised herself as a boy in order to play but after breaking into the senior women's game, there has been no stopping her.

She is the Youngest international, youngest to score 50, which she did against West Indies in her first series, and the youngest to play in all three formats for India.

Her aggressive batting style has resulted in the nickname "Lady Sehwag", after explosive Indian men's opener Virender Sehwag, but it was watching Sachin Tendulkar bat when she was just nine that inspired her to chase the game.

Ahead of the 2020 edition, when India were runners-up to Australia, Verma ranked as number one T20 batter in the world. She has now played 51 T20Is, racking up over 1200 runs at an impressive strike rate of 134.5.

England: Alice Capsey

If England are to unseat defending champions Australia they will need their