Former Australian pace-bowler Brett Lee has expressed his excitement ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup starting in Australia on Friday and said it is as an integral time for the women's game.

Writing for The ICC, the multiple Ashes-winning bowler praised how far the women's game has come and was optimistic about it's growth.

"We have already seen just how far the women’s game has come in such a short space of time, developing leaps and bounds even since the first Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009," he said.

"The chance for that to go one better is really exciting, for the sport in general and for cricket in Australia, which makes it a privilege to watch it unfold first-hand."

The 43-year-old was complimentary of the ambitions of the organisers to sell-out the MCG for the final on International Women's Day on March 8 and in the process set a record attendance for a women’s sporting event.

"It is a big ambition, but women’s cricket has continued to pleasantly surprise me and proven that these challenges are achievable," he added.

Lee also said that some of the all-time greatest cricketers will be partaking in the tournament such as England's captain Heather Knight and New Zealand's Sophie Devine, as well as the batting prowess demonstrated in the Indian line-up.

He ended his piece by acknowledging that Australia are the team to beat, but that this is by no means a guarantee they will lift the trophy as the other teams are creeping up on them.

"What strikes me most about the teams coming to Australia is how the gap between the top few teams and the rest is narrowing," he said.

"All ten countries will be confident of producing strong performances and results in this competition, which makes the battle to reach the semi-finals in Sydney and the final in Melbourne even more exciting.

"The future is therefore bright for the women’s game, and if the tournament is able to reach its predicted new heights, then the sky really is the limit."

The ICC Women's World Cup kicks off on Friday, February 21 with defending Champions Australia taking on the dangerous India at the Sydney Showground.