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Can’t underestimate India: WI skipper

West Indies women’s team skipper Merissa Aguilleira doesn’t want to underestimate hosts India in the upcoming Women’s World Cup even though they won the bilateral series against Mithali Raj and Co last year.

‘Definitely, the tournament in West Indies was a good one. It was fought well by both teams. I think the team has been performing very well. They have developed and played a lot of cricket. I don’t think you can underestimate any of the teams, even India. We just have to continue to do what we do and just stick to the basics,’ she told reporters at the press conference. West Indies had defeated visitors 2-1 during their bilateral series early last year. West Indies take on India in the first match of the tournament tomorrow and the captain said that the host nation has the ability to be crowned champions.

‘They are a great team. Mithali and Goswami have very good leadership qualities. They are a very good team. They have the ability to win this World Cup, but as I said, you can’t underestimate the other teams,’ she said.

Aguilleira, who used to be a hair stylist, said her team is here to compete for the title, unlike four years ago, when they participated to gain experience. ‘Well, during last edition, we were participants. The reason I am saying we took part is because we were lacking a lot of experience. We went into the tournament as underdogs.

But I guess, we have gained a lot of experience from 2009 to now. We are not taking part anymore, we are competing now,’ she said.

 
MITHALI ENTERS WC AS TOP RANKED BATTER

Indian captain Mithali Raj will enter the Women’s World Cup, beginning Thursday, as the number-one ranked batter on the Reliance ICC Women’s Player Rankings for ODI batswomen. Raj, who is appearing in her fourth successive Women’s World Cup, will lead her side in the opening match of the tournament at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai in a Group A match against the West Indies on Thursday. Raj currently tops the batting table with 767 ratings points. West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor is ranked second, 22 ratings points behind. The England duo of Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway are third and fourth respectively, while New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite in fifth spot completes the top five. The fight for the top slot in the Reliance ICC Women’s Player Rankings for ODI bowlers is even more interesting. England’s Katherine Brunt currently heads the bowlers’ table with 777 ratings points. But Brunt will face a tough challenge from Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar, who is currently second with 764 ratings points. India’s Jhulan Goswami at third, Ellyse Perry of Australia in fourth and England’s Laura Marsh in fifth are the other bowlers within the top 10 who are likely to make improvements.
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