Heather Knight recently sat down with Sky Sports to discuss England's ambitions as the nation prepares to host the Women's T20 World Cup in June. The overarching goal, she explained, is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," drawing inspiration from the recent successes of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. England last hosted a women's world tournament in 2009, a year in which the team lifted the trophy. Since then, the women's side has added another milestone to its résumé by winning the 50‑over Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2017, a campaign that Knight captained.
The 35‑year‑old reflects on how the environment for women's sport has transformed dramatically since those triumphs. The Lionesses have now clinched back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the first of which was played in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium. Meanwhile, the Red Roses captured the Rugby World Cup at a packed Twickenham last September, underscoring the growing appetite for women's team sports across the United Kingdom. "The focus now is women's cricket at the World Cup, so it's really exciting – not too far away now 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, noting that it would be her second home world event if everything goes to plan. "Playing at home is just special – friends and family can come, you know the grounds and the conditions, and you have that vital home support," she said.
Knight recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord's, when crowds swelled and the excitement was palpable. "It was huge for us in 2017, the way the crowds built and the final at Lord's, it's super special," she remembered. She believes that a successful 2026 tournament could have a lasting impact on the sport: "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." Beyond the on‑field action, Knight highlighted the broader changes taking place within the women's game.
"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," she explained. The professional domestic leagues now provide a clear pathway for talent, making cricket a viable career choice for young women. She added that the visibility of other women's teams, such as the Lionesses and Red Roses, has set a benchmark.
"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," Knight said, emphasizing the importance of role models. The England women's side has struggled with form in recent months, but Knight insists the squad 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 said. She expects a period of intensive training and team meetings ahead of the tournament, focusing on strategy, individual roles, and coping with the pressure of playing at home.
With just 50 days left until the tournament, the excitement is already spilling over into grassroots cricket. 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 at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, taking part in drills, small matches, and meeting aspiring young players.
The event also featured specially designed resources and games from UNICEF's "Rights in Play" programme, which used cricket activities to teach children about their rights. ICC chairman Jay Shah praised the initiative, noting that the event brought thousands of youngsters into the sport for the first time and would help build a pipeline of future talent.
ECB strategic growth head Gemma Barton echoed the sentiment, saying that moments like Schools Cricket Day illustrate how the Women's T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game. She highlighted that every child who picks up a bat today sees cricket as inclusive, welcoming, and fun, laying the groundwork for increased participation, more competitive teams, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Financially, the tournament is set to be the most lucrative edition yet. The ICC announced a 10 per cent increase in the total prize fund from 2024, with the champions slated to receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million) and the runners‑up $1.17 million (£871,000).
While the top two prize amounts remain the same as the previous edition, every participating team is guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), more than double the guarantee offered in 2024. This reflects the ICC's commitment to expanding the sport, as the tournament has grown from ten to twelve teams. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild described the 2026 edition as a "landmark moment" for women's cricket, predicting it will become the most attended women's cricket event in history, with record ticket demand and the largest prize pool ever for a global women's T20 competition.
In summary, Heather Knight sees the home World Cup as a catalyst for lasting change. By leveraging the momentum of recent successes in other women's sports, the professionalisation of domestic cricket, and a concerted effort to engage young people, England hopes to cement a legacy that will inspire generations of female cricketers. The combination of on‑field ambition, off‑field development programmes, and a significantly enhanced prize structure positions the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup as a pivotal chapter in the evolution of women's cricket worldwide.