Coming from the Land of Smiles, the Thailand women's cricket team has been the feel-good story of the T20 World Cup hosted by Australia.

Key points: Thailand was the first team from South-East Asia to qualify for a Women's T20 World Cup

Thailand was the first team from South-East Asia to qualify for a Women's T20 World Cup The Thai players have taken the tournament by storm with their infectious and positive attitude

The Thai players have taken the tournament by storm with their infectious and positive attitude Thailand lost three of its pool matches but gave itself a chance of victory against Pakistan before the match was abandoned

Thailand's rapid rise — in a country where cricket is largely unknown — to make its T20 World Cup debut has been incredible to watch.

The nation has only 11 contracted cricketers, all of whom are women, and it became the first team from South-East Asia to quality for the Women's T20 World Cup.

Thailand did not win a match at the tournament — although it did set Pakistan a competitive target of 151 in this afternoon's abandoned pool match in Sydney — but its impact has been profound.

"When we were preparing, nobody really even knew we were coming for a World Cup," Thailand's vice-captain Nattaya Boochatham said.

"But off the back of this, we've got a lot of attention around the world."

Thailand was soundly beaten by England, South Africa and West Indies, prior to its final match against Pakistan being called off early because of rain.

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Despite recording three heavy defeats, the joy and energy of the Thailand players has been infectious, highlighted when they bowed to the crowd, umpires and opponents during their matches.

"We can smile wholeheartedly and enjoy what a World Cup feels like, the experience has been invaluable for us," Boochatham said.

Thailand has also experienced displays of sportsmanship from other teams.

New Zealand gave the Thais an impromptu coaching clinic when they met in a warm-up fixture.

Thai players feel 'like a big family'

Most of Thailand's team are semi-professional, forced to juggle their playing duties with jobs or education commitments.

"When we go back we will take a bit of a break, enjoy [time] with our families, go back to studying, then after that, it's straight back to planning for the [one-day World Cup] 50-over qualifier," Boochatham said.

There was a significant amount of preparation put into the T20 World Cup campaign, as the squad of 15 came from different parts of Thailand to live under the one roof in a Bangkok house rented by the Cricket Association of Thailand.

The players became "like a big family", as they ate, slept and breathed cricket while undergoing a strict training regime.

"Always being together [makes] you understand the dynamics of everyone," Boochatham said.

"We know each other inside out, which is great when we are on the field, [as] we back each other."

The Thai players created a family-like environment in the build-up to the World Cup. ( ICC )

Most of Thailand's World Cup team switched to cricket from other sports such as softball, basketball and volleyball.

Captain Sornnarin Tippoch was scouted playing softball at university at 21, while Boochatham enjoyed a similar journey across to cricket.

"I thought, 'this is going to hurt a lot because I don't have my [softball] mitts on', but once I got into it and started batting I fell in love and have been playing ever since," Boochatham said.

The young team is hungrier than ever to match the standard set by the world's best.

"How we've underperformed is a wake-up call to us to motivate us," Boochatham said.

"We have been exposed but that's not a bad thing. We have to get stronger and bring our A game."

The tough initiation has paved the way for younger Thai players, according to Boochatham.

"We want the world to know that we can play, for us to set the benchmark for the new generation of Thai cricketers to show this is the level you have to be performing at," she said.

"Hopefully, we are good role models for the future."