Heather Knight recently sat down with Sky Sports to discuss England's lofty ambitions for the upcoming home Women's T20 World Cup, which kicks off in June. The central goal, she explained, is to "create a genuine 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 tournament marks the first time England has hosted the women's T20 World Cup since 2009, a year in which the English side lifted the trophy on home soil. It also follows the 2017 50‑over Cricket World Cup, another home triumph that Knight captained. The 35‑year‑old captain reflected on how dramatically the environment for women's sport has shifted since those earlier victories. The Lionesses have now claimed back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter played in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium, while 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 – it's not far away and it's a chance for us to do something truly special as a side," Knight told Sky Sports. She added that playing a second home tournament in her career feels "once in a lifetime" and that the familiar surroundings, supportive crowds, and known conditions give England a distinct advantage. Knight recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord's, noting how the crowd grew throughout the tournament and how that experience remains "super special" for her.
She believes that a successful campaign this summer could leave an enduring imprint on the sport across the nation. "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 said. Beyond the on‑field aspirations, Knight highlighted how the structural foundations of women's cricket have evolved. She noted that the domestic game is now fully professional, providing a clear pathway for young players and increasing visibility for the sport.
"It took a little bit of time for that success to see changes and I think the landscape is very different now," she observed. The professional domestic leagues mean that being a female cricketer is becoming a normal, respected career choice, and the increased media coverage helps to cement that shift. Knight expressed hope that any triumph in the upcoming tournament will inspire the next generation.
"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 said. The England women's side has struggled for form in recent months, but Knight emphasized that the team is eager to regain momentum.
"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," she explained. She expects the squad to spend time together, fine‑tuning strategies and clarifying individual roles ahead of the tournament. The pressure of playing a home World Cup will be a major talking point within the camp.
Knight said the team will have extensive conversations about handling expectations and turning the home advantage into a weapon. "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 added. Off the pitch, the build‑up to the tournament has already generated significant excitement across the country.
With just 50 days left until the opening match, more than 236,000 children from over 1,350 schools participated in Schools Cricket Day, the largest single‑day cricket participation event in UK history. Knight joined over 200 boys and girls at a bustling cricket festival held at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, taking part in drills, mini‑matches, and meeting aspiring youngsters. The day also featured specially designed resources and games created by UNICEF, the ICC's global charity partner, under its "Rights in Play" programme. These activities aimed to teach children about their rights through sport, reinforcing the message that cricket can be a vehicle for broader social learning.
ICC chairman Jay Shah praised the enthusiasm building across the UK, noting that the expanded tournament will feature 12 teams instead of the previous 10, reflecting a commitment to growing the women's game worldwide. He highlighted that many of the children taking part in Schools Cricket Day may be experiencing cricket for the first time, and that the tournament will provide role models for them to emulate.
Gemma Barton, the ECB's head of strategic growth, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the event is shaping the future of cricket by showing how inclusive and enjoyable the sport can be. She stressed that the impact extends beyond the summer, envisioning a sustained increase in participation, more teams developing, and a broader sense of belonging among fans. Financially, the ICC announced a 10 percent increase in the total prize fund for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup compared with 2024. The champions will receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million), while the runners‑up will collect $1.17 million (£871,000).
Importantly, every participating nation is guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), more than double the amount assured to each side in 2024. Although the top‑two prize money remains unchanged from the previous edition, the overall pot has risen from $7.958 million in 2024 to $8.765 million, reflecting the expansion to 12 teams. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild described the 2026 edition as a potential "landmark moment" for women's cricket, forecasting record‑breaking ticket demand and the largest prize pool ever for a global women's T20 competition.
She anticipates it will become the most attended women's cricket event in history, further cementing the sport's growing popularity. In summary, Heather Knight and the England women's cricket team are poised to seize a rare opportunity: a home World Cup that could leave an indelible mark on the sport. With a professional domestic structure, heightened visibility, and a clear ambition to inspire the next generation, the side aims to turn the excitement of a packed stadium and the roar of a supportive crowd into a catalyst for lasting change.
The tournament promises not only high‑quality cricket but also a platform for young fans to envision themselves as future stars, ensuring that the legacy Knight speaks of becomes a reality for years to come.