Australia, England are form teams but adaptability will decide Women's T20 World Cup semis: Ian Bishop

NEW DELHI: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes Australia and England are the two standout teams heading into the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, but says adapting quickly to different conditions will be the biggest challenge in the knockout stage.Australia, six-time champions and Group A winners, face 2016 champions West Indies in the first semi-final at The Oval on Tuesday. Hosts England, who topped Group B, will meet two-time runners-up South Africa on Thursday. The winners will clash in the final at Lord's on July 5.

'Australia and England are the two form teams'Bishop said teams have had to deal with changing venues and conditions throughout the tournament, making adaptability crucial.“Adapting to conditions is always critical - for example, in this World Cup.

As with most tournaments, you find teams playing at different venues, and a lot of teams have had to play - for example, down in Southampton, then go all the way up to Leeds, back down to Manchester, and down to Lord’s."So, adapting to those varying conditions without much practice time, sometimes a team would have gotten to a new venue a day or two before. It's not new in the international game, and it's not an excuse, but it is critical to adapt.

But you have some form teams, and we can get into that a little bit later. Obviously, Australia and England are the two form teams in the tournament,” Bishop said on JioStar media day. West Indies need their stars to deliverBishop acknowledged Australia's dominance over the years but believes West Indies have the players to cause an upset if their senior stars perform.“Given the number of titles Australia has had, it's self-evident that they have been far ahead of many of us in the world game.

They've lost in the finals to the West Indies, former champions in 2016, and England have had their day.“New Zealand won the last T20 World Cup. But if you talk about consistency over time, Australia have obviously have been ahead more consistently. How can they stop them? The West Indies are going to have to lift their game significantly, and they're capable of Hayley Matthews, who hasn't really fired yet, and Deandra Dottin, who hasn't really fired yet.“We've seen some good things from Stafanie Taylor, so hopefully she's fit, healthy, firing and ready to go. Shemaine Campbell had a good outing. Those big players, I think one or two or some of them are going to have to stand tall, simply because Australia have decent enough bowling resources, very experienced in the spin department, and their batting depth and power is amongst the best in the game, certainly in the top two.“So whatever happens at the toss, the West Indies are going to have to bat a lot better than they've batted before in this tournament. The batting has been shaky, and they have to hope their bowling group is on target. Chinelle Henry is a vital piece of the puzzle, and she had injuries in the last game, so hopefully she is fit. That, to me, is another big thing.“West Indies have to be fit, and they have to bowl to the best of their ability because that Australian machine is very, very good all round.

So I'm not saying it can't be done. For it to be done, the West Indies have to be on top of their game, bat well with the big three or four they have, and hope that Chinelle, amongst the other bowlers, is fit.”'Never write off South Africa'Looking ahead to the second semi-final, Bishop said South Africa remain a dangerous side despite England's outstanding record at home.“You never write off South Africa. South Africa have been plugging away in every format and genre of the game, men's and women's, over the last few years, and the women's team in particular have been knocking at the door.“Their win yesterday was a little bit shaky in that run chase, but I think they have enough soldiers in their leader, in Marizanne Kapp and several other players, Tasmin Brits, etc., who can win a game on the day. So I would never write them off at all. I hope that one day they push all the way to lifting one of these trophies in the female game.“However, England's record of never having lost a Women's World Cup of any kind at home is a strong one.

If Nat Sciver-Brunt is running and available and running at 100 percent, then I think they are one of the favourites. With Australia battling there in that form, I wouldn't say they are runaway favourites. They're going to be tough to beat. But Australia are also a strong team and, on their day, South Africa can surprise you.

”Charlotte Edwards has transformed EnglandBishop also praised England head coach Charlotte Edwards, saying she has built a confident and aggressive team.“Everything takes time. WPL takes time to get things better. IPL would have taken time to get things better. In the Caribbean, we have our own systems and leagues that took time. In Australia, I'm sure the privatisation or the professionalisation of the game took time to advance the women's game, as in England. So look, I've known Charlotte for a while and known about her and spoken to her on a couple of occasions.“I think I said it on social media that she would do a good job a couple of years ago, before she got the job.

What she has them doing is playing an aggressive brand of cricket with great self-belief, which I think England needed. She's given them a good structure.“Being at home now for this World Cup, I think we've seen her philosophy coming to pass through Danny Wyatt-Hodge, obviously, Sophia Dunkley, and at times Amy Jones. So again, I don't know the news on Nat Sciver-Brunt, and I don't know if you guys have probably heard a lot more than I have. That's a big miss if they get to the final, and let's say in front of them is an Australian team if they can get past South Africa.”Watch ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, Australia vs West Indies on June 30, and England vs South Africa on July 2, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.