The 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup in Australia will be the first to be played under the auspices of the ICC since its merger with the International Women’s Cricket Council in 2005.

But the event has been running for longer than the men’s version and was first staged in England in 1973, when it was won by the host team.

The tournament has been staged twice each in England (1973 and 1993), India (1978 and 1997) and New Zealand (1982 and 2000) as well as Australia (1988) and South Africa (2005).

In all, 13 countries have participated in the eight World Cups held so far but Australia, England and New Zealand are the only sides to have participated in every single event.

India have played in six World Cups (1978, 1982, 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2005) while Ireland have participated in five events (1988, 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2005), Holland in four events (1988, 1993, 1997 and 2000), South Africa (1997, 2000 and 2005), West Indies (1993, 1997 and 2005) and Sri Lanka (1997, 2000 and 2005) in three events each, Denmark (1993 and 1997) twice each while Pakistan’s only appearance was in 1997.

In the 1973 World Cup, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago fielded independent teams.

Women's World Cup - 1973
Women's World Cup - 1978
Women's World Cup - 1982
Women's World Cup - 1988
Women's World Cup - 1993
Women's World Cup - 1997
Women's World Cup - 2000
Women's World Cup - 2005

The 2009 tournament in Australia will see the world’s top eight teams – holders Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies – compete at six venues in 16 days from March 7-22.

The format of the event involves the teams being divided into two groups. Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa are in Group A, while India, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are in Group B.

The top three sides in each group will go forward to the Super Six stage where each side then plays the teams which have qualified from the other group.

The top two sides from the Super Six go forward to the final.