Heather Knight told Sky Sports that England’s goal for the home‑based Women’s T20 World Cup, which kicks off in June, is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," mirroring the achievements of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. The tournament marks the first time England has hosted the event since 2009, a year when the England side lifted the trophy, and follows the women's team’s triumph in the 50‑over Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2017 – a competition that Knight captained. Now, at 35, Knight observes that the environment for women’s sport has shifted dramatically since those earlier successes. The Lionesses have claimed back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter 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, not too far away and a chance for us to do something really special as a side," Knight said. She reflected on the rarity of playing a major tournament at home: "It’s once in a career, but this is probably going to be my second home tournament – hopefully all goes well – and it’s just really special playing at home, with friends and family able to come, familiar grounds, familiar conditions and that home support which is crucial." Knight recalled the 2017 final at Lord’s, noting how the crowd grew and how memorable that experience was. "It was huge for us in 2017, the way the crowds built and the final at Lord’s, it’s super special." Looking ahead, Knight emphasized the broader impact: "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 added that the recent progress in women’s cricket has been underpinned by structural changes, such as a fully professional domestic circuit, greater visibility and more normalised pathways for female players.
"It took a little bit of time for that success to see changes and I think the landscape is very different now – 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." Knight believes that the momentum generated by the Lionesses and Red Roses can be harnessed to inspire the next generation of cricketers: "You’d hope now if we have that success and things go well for us the structures are in place to make the most of it and really make it a huge moment. 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." The England women’s side has struggled for form in recent weeks, but Knight said the squad is eager to regroup and embrace the home‑soil pressure.
"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. 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." She acknowledged the psychological aspect of a home tournament: "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." In the lead‑up to the event, grassroots participation has surged.
With 50 days remaining, 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 initiative in UK history. Knight joined over 200 boys and girls at a lively cricket festival at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, taking part in drills, matches and meeting aspiring youngsters.
The day also featured specially designed resources and games from UNICEF’s "Rights in Play" programme, aimed at teaching 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." He added that expanding the tournament from ten to twelve teams demonstrates the ICC’s commitment to growing the women’s game globally and creating more opportunities for players and fans. "We look forward to welcoming these young participants and their families to the stadiums this summer, where they can watch their heroes and be inspired to dream bigger," Shah said.
Gemma Barton, the ECB’s head of strategic growth, echoed the sentiment: "Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game. Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is. It’s not just about the summer ahead, it’s about what comes next: more girls playing, more teams growing, and more people feeling like they belong in the game." Financially, the ICC announced a 10 percent increase in the total prize fund for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, bringing the overall pot to $8.765 million (£6.528 million). The champions will receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million) and the runners‑up $1.17 million (£871,000).
All twelve participating teams are guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), more than double the amount assured in 2024. While the top‑two prize money remains unchanged from the previous edition, the increase reflects the tournament’s expansion and the ICC’s drive to reward all competitors more fairly. When New Zealand won the 2024 edition, the total prize pool was $7.958 million (£5.926 million).
The 2026 increase not only boosts the financial rewards but also underscores the event’s growing stature, with tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild projecting it to become the most attended women’s cricket event in history, driven by record ticket demand and the largest prize pool ever for a global women’s T20 competition. In summary, Knight and her teammates are preparing to harness home advantage, new structural support and a wave of grassroots enthusiasm to deliver a memorable tournament and, ideally, a lasting legacy for women’s cricket in England.