A four-way contest

My cyber postbag has bulged pleasantly recently with emails from all the over the world from enthusiastic mothers wanting to know how their daughters can become professional cricketers. These are encouraging signs. Just a decade ago - a mere drop in the historical ocean - players bought their own blazers and had to contribute to tour costs. Now they're in a much better position, after the ICC took the women's game under its belt and made the game almost professional.

This is good news for all countries but the big four - Australia, India, New Zealand and England - continue to be streets ahead of the rest. They remain the only four sides to have played a World Cup final in eight competitions since 1973. The next competition is in Australia in 2009, but they have an immediate chance to see how they're shaping up this month when they meet for the quadrangular tournament in Chennai. To get a real flavour of the competition, each team will play the three others at least twice.

The tournament, tellingly known as the World Series, is the second of its kind, with Australia the inaugural winners in 2002-03. They're looking good to retain that title, too. Australia have won every series this decade - bar being pipped in the 2000 World Cup final where New Zealand took the honours.

They have won their last nine matches, while introducing some new faces; like the men, Australia are ageing. But like the men - and ominously enough for the opposition - they also have new players in depth. South Australia's Emma Sampson is the latest, and she's set for her debut in Chennai. At the other end of the age spectrum, Cathryn Fitzpatrick marches on, still spearheading the pace attack ferociously at 38: "A once in a generation player," according their captain and ICC Female Player of the Year, Karen Rolton.

Home advantage could be the key for India - big crowds, big occasions, used to the conditions - as will their plethora of one-dayers. India have played 30 in the last 18 months, nearly as many as Australia (9) New Zealand (10) and England (13) put together. If they gather some momentum they will be difficult to stop, as New Zealand found to their cost, when they lost out to India in the 2005 World Cup semis. Mithali Raj is the youngest captain, at 24, but she has the mental nouse to match her dancer's poise.

New Zealand's fitness and skill levels are increasing, but they still have room to improve. And their tour record in India is pretty handy - having won half of their matches here. The last time they were here they lost 4-1 to India, but will look forward to taking on neutral sides at the venue.

They have two new players - the wicketkeeper/batsman Rowan Milburn and the offspinner Selena Charteris - and they are two of six State Canterbury Magicians' players, including the captain Haidee Tiffen. Suzie Bates has been recalled after injury ruled her out of the Rose Bowl Series in October, which was won by Australia, but Anna Dodd, who did play, is unavailable for this squad.

England have longer than their men to find some form before their World Cup, and are better placed right now, ranked fourth in the world. Their breadth and depth of young talent is so exciting, too. There's Sarah Taylor, the mature wicketkeeper/batsman, just 17, and then there's Ebony Rainford-Brent, the allrounder who made a surprising recovery from a back injury, and is now set for her debut.

Charlotte Edwards leads the side; she's growing into her role as captain and really has the respect of her younger charges. England had a torrid tour there last year, but will draw on that experience now - eating better, being safer, better equipped - and they will be playing teams on neutral turf, too.

But while the competition is good news for the participants, what about the rest of the world? How are they going to improve? South Africa have only recently played their first one-dayers in nearly a year - although they took on Pakistan and clean-swept their way to victory, despite being depleted by injury.

West Indies, who did gain last-gasp qualification and are now ranked fifth, haven't played since a hastily arranged three-match series just after the World Cup, when they faced South Africa. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have the Asia Cup, a tournament which is growing and Bangladesh could be included in the distant future, if plans to make a women's national side go ahead.

In the meantime, the big four will keep getting bigger and stronger.