Mithali Raj dreams of lifting the Women's Cricket World Cup

Women's cricket has existed for more than 250 years, and this year, it reaches a completely new level in its history with the staging of the 10th Women's World Cup. It's thought that in the last five years, female participation in cricket around the world has doubled, with just under 700-thousand women and girls now taking part in the sport. According to former England captain Nasser Hussein, the rise in the standard of women's cricket makes it a good product for television. "The standard over the last five/ten years has just increased to unbelievable levels of fitness and fielding and athleticism, and it make a good product for television, because it is a good product we've had some very good games, some very close games, you go back to the World Cup semi-finals at the Oval where Australia played England and Claire Taylor played that monumental inning, that was one of the great Women World Cup games of all time, so the standard and the viewing has increased beyond comparison." From the 31st of January the vibrant city of Mumbai plays host to the 2013 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. India's captain Mithali Raj has high hopes for the home nation. "...lifting the World Cup is something I've been dreaming about and I hope that dream becomes a reality in 2013." This will be the third time India has played host to women's cricket's leading 50-over tournament. With the likes of India, England, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies - it's sure to be a strongly contested affair.