WC may signal a shift in the landscape

• New Zealand’s maiden T20 World Cup triumph marks the end of a 24-year wait for the tournament.

• The ninth edition of the tournament, hosted in the UAE, saw the first-ever Women’s World Cup final without Australia or England.

• Australia’s transitioning team was beaten by South Africa in the first semifinal.

• West Indies, supported by England’s slipperiness in the field, showed Heather Knight and Co. the door.

• India, the third prong in cricket’s power circle, drifted out of contention in the group stage.

• The final week saw England’s slashing in Group-B, with India having a chance to qualify despite losing two games.

• Over 80 dropped catches during the tournament led to fielding being the difference between teams, especially in crunch situations.

• The reducing gap between the top three means more competitive games and events.

• Scotland’s breakthrough to the World Cup scene needs bilateral support and more game time against higher-quality opponents.