England batter Heather Knight believes her team’s experience from winning the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup at home can help them as they prepare to face Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final at Lord’s on Sunday.
England booked their place in the final after a dominant 40-run win over South Africa in the second semi-final at The Oval. The hosts have now won all six of their matches in the tournament and will take on six-time champions Australia in what promises to be a thrilling final.
Knight played a key role in England’s semi-final victory. After England were reduced to 23/3 early in their innings, she shared a match-winning 133-run partnership with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. The experienced pair stayed calm under pressure, rebuilt the innings and helped England post a strong total of 169/5.
England’s bowlers then backed up the batting performance with another disciplined display to bowl South Africa down and secure a place in the title clash.
Knight is one of only three players in England’s current squad who were part of the team that won the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at Lord’s. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are the other two players who have experienced winning a home World Cup.
Sciver-Brunt also made a brilliant return after recovering from a calf injury. She scored 75 from 47 balls in the semi-final and was named Player of the Match after leading England’s recovery from a difficult start.
Knight said the experience of playing a home World Cup is something only a few players in the squad understand, and it can help the team before the biggest match of the tournament.
“Playing in a home World Cup is quite unique and me, Nat and Danni are the only people that have done that – I think we’ll draw on that a little bit,” Knight said.
At the same time, she believes this England team has created its own identity under head coach Charlotte Edwards and will continue to play the fearless cricket that has taken them to the final.
“This is a very fresh-faced team. We play cricket in our own way.”
Knight also spoke about how much women’s cricket has changed since England’s famous World Cup triumph in 2017. Back then, a packed Lord’s was seen as a landmark moment for the women’s game. Today, she said, playing in front of large crowds has become much more common for England.
“It was a full house in 2017 and it did really feel like a seminal moment. It feels slightly different because it is quite normal for us now to have the crowds. This is pretty normal now and you try and enjoy it, but it’s part of the parcel of what you do as an international female cricketer.
“It will feel slightly different. It probably won’t feel as historic for the game, I guess, but it has been a great competition and we’re desperate to be on the right side of that final and make it a really special one for England women’s cricket.”
England has looked one of the strongest teams throughout the tournament. They have beaten Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa to reach the final without losing a match.
Australia have also enjoyed a perfect campaign, setting up a meeting between the two unbeaten teams. The defending champions are chasing a record-extending seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title, while England are aiming to win their second title after lifting the inaugural trophy in 2009.
England will also be hoping to improve their recent record against Australia in the ICC finals. Australia have won every Women’s World Cup final they have played against England across both formats, making Sunday’s contest another huge challenge for the hosts.
However, with confidence high, experienced players leading from the front and the support of a home crowd at Lord’s, Knight believes England have a great chance to create another special moment in the team’s history and lift the Women’s T20 World Cup trophy.
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