Hussain predicts semi-finalists at Women's T20 World Cup 2026

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Former England captain and highly-respected commentator Nasser Hussain has revealed the teams he believes are best placed to feature in the semi-finals of the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Hussain dissected the T20 World Cup with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review and the pair agreed that this year's edition of the 20-over showcase looks the most open ever.

Likely Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finalists

Hussain stuck his neck out and suggested six-time champions Australia, tournament hosts England, reigning ICC Women's Cricket World Cup winners India and reigning title holders New Zealand would be the four teams most likely to reach the knockout stages.

"Australia and England," Hussain said without hesitation on The ICC Review.

"I just said West Indies could surprise, but I'm going to go with the reigning champions, New Zealand (as the third).

"And then I don't know out of India and South Africa, but I'm going to go India because I think they raised their game in big games.

"You saw that in the 50-over World Cup. If you can beat Australia in a 50-over World Cup and then beat South Africa. I think they're slightly better in a big knockout game than maybe a bilateral game as we've seen against South Africa and England.

"So they are my four. But it could well be South Africa and the West Indies. Who knows? In this format, it is very difficult to predict who'll get out of the group stages."

Teams capable of surprising

Hussain did suggest that 2016 champions West Indies were more than capable of reaching the semi-finals and could be the team most likely to surprise.

"I've gone through virtually this whole podcast without mentioning the West Indies actually," Hussain recalled.

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"And you know, they've won this tournament, so I don't know if you can be dark horses and be the West Indies cricket team, but I just think no one's mentioning and for that and they knocked England out in Dubai (at 2024 event).

"When you have Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin’s back and Chinelle Henry and I think and they're improving, quite a few of their players do go around playing franchise cricket and a few of them have played here in England in The Hundred.

"I think that West Indies-New Zealand game in particular, I can see maybe West Indies getting out of the group, actually. They shouldn't be dark horses because they've always been a great sporting nation, but I think no one is mentioning I can see them doing quite well."

Australia veteran can be leading run-scorer

Hussain expects Australia to prove to be the hardest team to beat at the T20 World Cup and thinks it makes sense that one of their players will finish as the leading run-scorer, as they will feature in the most games.

"I think Australia will go all the way. Now whether they win the final or not, who knows? But that means whoever plays for Australia will play the most games with someone on the other side of the final," Hussain suggested.

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"And if you bat in the Powerplay, you're going to get the most chance to get the most runs.

"And if you're as good and talented and consistent as Beth Mooney, you're going to get a lot of runs. And she's played a lot of cricket in England. She's played a lot of cricket, full stop. But she's played a lot of cricket in England. I'm going to go Beth Mooney."

England pacer likely for leading wicket-taker

While many of the teams at the T20 World Cup have loaded up on spin options, Hussain still expects pace to play a major role at the event and has picked out England's fast bowling spearhead Lauren Bell as his selection to finish with the most wickets.

"Well, again for similar reasons, a side that may go all the way. I underline the word "may" there. England," Hussain commenced.

"They are going to play a lot of games and you want someone bowling in the Powerplay, the chance of getting wickets, and someone bowling at the death chance of getting wickets. So I'm going to go Lauren Bell.

"She's really worked hard on new ball bowling, swinging it out now and in, but she can do both, and at the end, as we saw in this recent series, a lot of slower balls and cutters.

"I think she got Jemimah (Rodrigues) out with one last night.

"I know bowlers like (former England quick) Darren Gough, he was desperate to bowl at the death simply because you got a chance of getting wickets.”

Look for all-rounder to be crowned Player of the Tournament

While Hussain would not be surprised if Mooney or Bell was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, he selected another Australian as the most likely to stand out above all her peers.

"I mean, it could be one of those two (Mooney or Bell), but (I will choose) Annabel Sutherland," Hussain suggested.

"I think she was quite brilliant when she was over here for The Hundred. She's been quite brilliant for Australia in general.

"How much batting she does because of the batting ahead of her, who knows?

"But I think she could be, if you want, if you ask me which one cricketer is going to handle the pressure really well, I will go Annabel Sutherland."