The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have opened their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign with a 135-run win against the West Indies in a warm-up match at MIG Stadium today.

Australian captain Jodie Fields won the toss and sent Elyse Villani (49) and Rachael Haynes (61) in to open the batting. They built a solid partnership of 95 runs before Villani was retired, with teams permitted to play up to 15 players under the practice match conditions. Jess Cameron (62) wasted no time finding the boundaries, notching 10 fours as she anchored her side’s innings. The Australians rotated their batting line-up through the innings to provide as many players as possible with vital match experience ahead of the start of the official tournament. Lisa Sthalekar (59) and Jodie Fields (35) also contributed well to take their side’s total to 5-333 after 50 overs.

England captain Charlotte Edwards led the way with a half-century today as her side claimed a comfortable 51-run victory over South Africa at the CCI ground in Mumbai today in their first warm-up game ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013.

The captain top scored with 78 in a total of 270-9 after England had been put into bat by South Africa – sharing a 101-run partnership with Lydia Greenway who made 35. Berkshire’s Heather Knight was the other major contributor to the England run-tally, making 42 off only 45 balls before holing out with three overs remaining. Wickets were then shared around by the England bowlers as South Africa fell 51-runs short of their victory target.

Left-arm spinner Holly Colvin claimed the prize wicket of the dangerous Chetty for 57 with Arran Brindle and Danielle Hazell also among the wicket-takers and Lydia Greenway catching the eye with an impressive diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Susanna Benade.

After the game Heather Knight said: “It was great to get out there, get into the swing of things and score some runs today. It was a decent wicket with a bit in it for the bowlers and played a little different to what we were expecting, but was nice to bat on.

“Charlotte batted well up front, set a really good platform for us to kick on from and we got a decent total in the end. Our bowlers bowled well, got overs under their belts and it was good to get out in the field for 50 overs and get miles in our legs; we’re all feeling really good leading into tournament.

“It’s a nice ground here at the CCI, I’m looking forward to playing our group games here, it’s well suited for women’s cricket. We’ve got a quick turnaround now for our second warm-up game against New Zealand tomorrow, then it’s into the group stages with our first game against Sri Lanka on Friday.” England will play their second and final warm-up game against New Zealand tomorrow (Tuesday January 29th) at the BKC ground, Mumbai.

England’s Charlotte Edwards has been picked for her fifth successive World Cup, while her Indian counterpart, Mithali Raj, has been selected for her fourth successive World Cup after all eight countries finalized their squads for the ICC Women’s World Cup India 2013 to be staged in Mumbai from 31 January to 17 February.

The eight squads see some interesting selections, including the return to the South Africa squad of former captain Cri-Zelda Brits, who in 2011 took an indefinite break from the international game.

The Women's National Selection Panel (WNSP) has today announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013, which starts next month. The tournament will take place from 31 January – 17 February, 2013 at four venues in Mumbai.

Commenting on the squad, Women's National Selection Panel (WNSP) Chair of Selectors Julie Savage said: "The WNSP have selected a powerful and well-balanced squad to contest the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013.

Charlotte Edwards was today named as captain of a 15-strong England Women's squad for the ICC Women's World Cup to be held in India in February. Edwards will go into her fifth World Cup with England as reigning champions having won the trophy for the third time in the history of the competition in Sydney in 2009.

Charlotte Edwards said: "The whole team is really excited about defending our world title in Mumbai in February. I'm so proud to be captaining such a talented team in what is the pinnacle event in our sport."

Host India will open the ICC Women's World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai next year, where the India men's team won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 last April, against the West Indies on 31 January 2013.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today released the schedule and format of the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013, to be held in Mumbai from 31 January to 17 February 2013, and holder England will begin its trophy defence also at Wankhede Stadium - against Sri Lanka on 2 February.

Along with ICC's 10 Full members, the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2012, being supported by Events Queensland, will see six qualifiers – Namibia (from the Africa Region), Afghanistan and Nepal (from the Asia Region), Papua New Guinea (from the East Asia-Pacific Region) and Ireland and Scotland (from the Europe Region) – taking part in Brisbane, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast from 11-26 August.

The six teams qualified from the 10-team ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2011 Qualifier which took place in Ireland from 28 July to 9 August 2011.

Australia will aim to match Pakistan's achievement when it launches the defence of its ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup title against traditional rival and former champion England at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville on the opening day of the 16-day tournament on Saturday 11 August. This will be one of the 10 matches from the Tony Ireland Stadium, along with two quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final on Sunday 26 August, which will be televised live by ESPN Star Sports, ICC's global broadcast partners.

Together with Australia and England, also in action in Townsville on the opening day will be Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea (PNG) who will face each other at Endeavour Park 1, while four Asian rivals will go head to head in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast with Sri Lanka meeting Bangladesh at the Allan Border Field and Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the John Blanck Oval.