Pundit predictions: Will England retain Cricket World Cup title?

July 23, 2017 - it was a day England Women will never forget.

Anya Shrubsole's bowling figures of 6-46, which included five wickets in 19 balls during a dramatic finale, inspired her side to a World Cup victory over India at a packed-out and enthralled Lord's.

Fast forward five years - the Covid-19 pandemic pushing the latest tournament back from 2021 to 2022 - and England are now looking to defend the title in New Zealand.

Ahead of the competition, which starts in the early hours of Friday morning with the hosts against West Indies, we asked Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain and Lydia Greenway for their predictions.

Will England retain their title? Who are the other contenders? Who are the players to look out for? Read on for our pundits' thoughts...

NASSER HUSSAIN: I think they should make the final, along with Australia, who are by far the best side in women's cricket at the moment. But with the likes of New Zealand and South Africa around it won't be easy. Other sides have improved, including India, who reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2017 and the 20-over World Cup final in 2020.

England have not had a great time of late, losing the recent Ashes series 12-4, but they have had their break and got that out of their system. I think this tournament is exactly what they need to lift them.

Runs are key for England. They didn't get enough in the Ashes. The opening pair of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont really have to fire, like they did in the last World Cup. If Heather Knight and Nat Sciver do likewise in the middle order, that will go a long way to winning this World Cup.

LYDIA GREENWAY: Because England are defending champions, they will be fancying their chances and they should definitely be making the