Whatever happens tomorrow – both England’s and India’s players will have a strong new contender for the greatest day of their life. A sell-out crowd at Lord’s. When the 22 players take to the field with not an empty seat in sight, they could reflect on their hopes and dreams when they were young girls. Did they think this would be possible? It is now. There’s only one thing left to do - win the game.
India's top order
India’s top four is an intimidating prospect. Mithali Raj is the highest scorer remaining in the tournament, England have first-hand experience of Smriti Mandhana’s class and Harmanpreet Kaur played one of the greatest innings ever to grace a World Cup semi-final on Thursday – men’s or women’s. Mandhana loves to camp on the back foot and wait to punish the short ball, something England fed at Derby, while Raj accumulates remorselessly and Kaur is all top-hand elegance. England will want early wickets.
Pace off the ball
A common trope in this tournament, but certainly less so than during the World T20 in India in 2016, is slow bowling which puts the onus on batters. Variety is the spice of life and while slow wickets aren’t a bad thing women’s cricket needs different tracks to showcase itself and give opportunities to batters and bowlers – both seamers and spinners. India will have a number of slow bowlers who’ll settle in for the middle overs and give nothing away. They’ll want to bowl at the stumps, pace off the ball, and make England’s batters do the hard work. The pitch has been used before, for England's ODI against Ireland in May, so it could turn. How England adapt could be key.
The basics
It sounds obvious but in England’s two closest matches so far – Australia in the group stages and South Africa in Tuesday’s semi-final – control of the basic things has been huge. Australia and South Africa were less tight when it came to controlling extras and while England weren’t perfect in the field in either they took the catches that mattered most and found a way to get over the line. It will be of huge assistance to England that they’ve won two close matches – winning the tight ones can be huge.
Match-winner?
A World Cup Final is very often the chance for someone to make themselves the hero, and sometimes it’s not necessarily the player you expect it to be. In 2009, when England beat New Zealand in Sydney, it was allrounder Nicky Shaw who earned that accolade, taking 4 for 34 and seeing her side over the line with 17 not out. Who may be that person for England?
Psychology
Only one team have beaten England at this World Cup – and it’s India. Despite India’s good form over the last 12 months it felt like something of a surprise when they toppled the hosts at Derby – not least because England had experienced no issues in a World Cup warm-up match not three weeks before. It would be a beautiful way to book-end the tournament for England if they were to defeat the only team they’re yet to beat in the final. For India, to a certain extent there’s nothing to lose. They’ll be soaring after their victory over Australia, but there’s one big challenge left.
The toss
The last three ICC Women’s World Cup finals have gone the way of the team who’ve won the toss and opted to bat first. Whether it’s the tracks, the pressure of chasing in a final or a combination of both – they’ve all gone the same way. Will that play out on Sunday?