Heather Knight has spoken to Sky Sports about England's ambition for the home‑hosted Women's T20 World Cup, which kicks off in June. The aim, she says, is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," mirroring the successes recently achieved by the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. This will be the first time England has staged the tournament since 2009, a year when the English side lifted the trophy. The women's cricket team also delivered a historic home victory in the 50‑over World Cup in 2017, a campaign that Knight captained to glory.
Now, at 35, Knight observes that the environment for women's sport has shifted dramatically since those earlier triumphs. The Lionesses have won back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter played in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium. Likewise, the Red Roses captured the Rugby World Cup at a packed Twickenham last September.
"The focus now is women's cricket at the World Cup, so it's really exciting, not too far away and a chance for us to do something really special as a side," Knight told Sky Sports. She described the upcoming tournament as a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity, adding that it could be her second home World Cup if everything goes to plan. "Playing at home is special – friends and family can attend, you know the grounds and conditions, and you have that crucial home support," she said.
Knight recalled the 2017 final at Lord's, noting how the crowd grew throughout the event and how memorable that experience was. "It's a chance to have a real impact on the sport in your country and leave a legacy. If we do our job right and have success this summer we can leave a real legacy on the sport of women's cricket in this country," she explained.
Knight also highlighted the structural changes that have taken place in women's cricket over the past few years. "It took a little bit of time for that success to see changes and I think the landscape is very different now and – particularly in women's cricket – there's the structure beneath the game, the domestic game's professional. It's a lot more normal to be a women's cricketer, there's a lot more visibility," she said. She hopes that any success in the tournament will be amplified by these new professional pathways, allowing the sport to reach a wider audience.
"We've seen what the Lionesses and Red Roses have done, I've followed those very closely and know some of the players. We want to do something similar and hopefully inspire kids to make a girl in cricket really normal and really great," she added. Despite a recent dip in form, the England women's side is determined to approach the home World Cup with enthusiasm and a hunger to prove themselves.
"The mood's really good, we haven't had a huge amount of cricket this winter since that 50‑over World Cup so we're actually itching to get out together as an England side, get the feel of international cricket again and build towards that T20 World Cup," Knight said. She emphasized the importance of team cohesion and clarity of roles as they prepare. "It'll be really fun to get back together as a group and try and get really clear on how we're going to play and the roles we're going to play, things like that." The pressure of playing a World Cup on home soil will be a talking point throughout the build‑up. Knight expects many conversations about handling expectations and turning pressure into a competitive edge.
"Trying to embrace the pressure of a home T20 World Cup, it's going to be really important, I'm sure we'll have lots of conversations leading into the competition about how we're going to deal with that and how we're going to maximise it and really attack that tournament," she said. The excitement surrounding the event is already evident off the field. With 50 days left until the tournament, more than 236,000 children from over 1,350 schools across the United Kingdom took part in Schools Cricket Day, the largest single‑day cricket participation event in UK history. Knight joined over 200 boys and girls at a vibrant cricket festival held at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, taking part in drills, matches, and meeting aspiring youngsters.
The day also featured educational games created by the ICC's global charity partner UNICEF under its "Rights in Play" programme, designed to teach children about their rights through sport. ICC chairman Jay Shah praised the initiative, saying, "It is fantastic to see the excitement building across the UK ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Schools Cricket Day, marking 50 days to go, has brought thousands of children into the game, many of whom may be taking their very first steps in cricket today." The tournament itself has been expanded from ten to twelve teams, reflecting the ICC's commitment to growing the women's game worldwide. Prize money has also risen, with a 10 percent increase in the total fund from 2024. Winners will receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million), runners‑up $1.17 million (£871,000), and every participating side is guaranteed at least $247,500 (£184,000), more than double the 2024 minimum. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild called the 2026 edition a "landmark moment" that is on track to become the most attended women's cricket event in history, thanks to record ticket demand and the largest prize pool ever for a women's T20 competition.
Overall, Knight sees the home World Cup as a catalyst for lasting change. She hopes the tournament will inspire a new generation of girls to pick up a bat and ball, normalise women's cricket, and cement England's position as a powerhouse in the sport for years to come.