GROUP A

AUSTRALIA

STAR PLAYERS: Have last year's best Twenty20 player in the world in Alyssa Healy and the ICC's female cricketer of the year in Ellyse Perry. Along with quick Megan Schutt and captain Meg Lanning, they just need them to fire.

PREDICTION: Champions. On paper Australia should win the title. But being the hunted and having the pressure of home expectation means it won't be so easy.

INDIA

STAR PLAYERS: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur can win a match on her own and did just that against the Aussies in the 2017 one-day World Cup semi-final. Teenage spinner Radha Yadav is a real prospect with the ball.

PREDICTION: Third in group. Have the team to do damage but are in a hellish group along with Australia and New Zealand. One loss to either of those could derail their campaign.

NEW ZEALAND

STAR PLAYERS: Sophie Devine is coming off the best WBBL campaign in history after blitzing it with bat and ball. Fellow allrounder Suzie Bates and speedster Lea Tahuhu give them balance.

PREDICTION: Finalists. Haven't reached a T20 World Cup decider before but eight of their players have performed well in the WBBL.

SRI LANKA

STAR PLAYERS: Chamari Atapattu rose to the occasion and scored a massive century in the 2017 one-day World Cup against Australia. Spinner Sashikala Siriwardena is their most threatening bowler.

PREDICTION: Fourth in group. Flogged England in a warm-up match and could spring more upsets but it's hard to see them getting enough wins to progress.

BANGLADESH

STAR PLAYERS: Much will rest on the shoulders of Nigar Sultana, a 22-year-old batter who has the potential to be one of the country's best. Seamer Jahanara Alam is highly touted but needs support.

PREDICTION: Fifth in group. Beat India in Asia Cup final two years ago and could spring an upset. However, they went winless in the last World Cup.

GROUP B

ENGLAND

STAR PLAYERS: Heather Knight is still among the world's best batters while left-arm finger spinner Sophie Ecclestone could benefit from the extra bounce on Australian pitches.

PREDICTION: Semi-finalists. Should top their group but lack of tough preparation could hurt them in a likely semi-final against Australia, New Zealand or India.

WEST INDIES

STAR PLAYERS: Stefanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin are among the most dangerous hitters in the world, but must do it consistently.

PREDICTION: Third in group. Claimed the 2016 T20 World Cup but since crashing out in the semi-finals two years ago at home have won just four of 15 matches and lost their past seven.

SOUTH AFRICA

STAR PLAYERS: Sydney Sixers leg-spinning allrounder Dane van Niekerk is among the world's best and knows conditions well. Quick Shabnim Ismail is among the world's fastest bowlers.

PREDICTION: Semi-finalists. The last group match against West Indies could be the deciding battle for the finals with the South Africans claiming some big scalps in recent years.

PAKISTAN

STAR PLAYERS: Veteran top-order batter Javeria Khan was Pakistan's leading light at the T20 World Cup two years ago and threatens to be again. Spinner Anam Amin barely featured in that tournament but has improved significantly.

PREDICTION: Fourth in group. A team on the up but still a big mountain to climb.

THAILAND

STAR PLAYERS: Captain Sornnarin Tippoch holds the hopes of their batting while seamer Chanida Sutthiruang took 12 wickets at 5.66 in the qualifying tournament.

PREDICTION: Fifth in group: Making the tournament is an achievement but a win in the group stage looks beyond them.

Australian Associated Press