Michael Atherton, the veteran analyst for Sky Sports Cricket, believes that England’s women’s side possesses both the talent and the depth required to mount a serious challenge for the Women’s T20 World Cup when it returns to English soil this summer. While the Lionesses have not lifted the T20 crown since they hosted the tournament in 2009, and suffered group‑stage exits in both 2010 and the most recent 2024 edition, Atherton is confident that the combination of a familiar venue, a refreshed leadership group and a pool of quality players will place them firmly in the conversation for the title. The last time England won the T20 World Cup was in 2009, a triumph that still resonates with fans and players alike. Since then, the team’s fortunes have been mixed: a disappointing group‑stage finish in 2010, a similar early exit in 2024, and an eight‑year drought without an ICC trophy of any format after the 2017 50‑over World Cup victory on home soil.
Yet the upcoming 2026 tournament offers a fresh start. Head coach Charlotte Edwards is set to announce the squad on Tuesday, and Atherton stresses that despite recent setbacks, the side will be a genuine contender. "It was a long time ago, but the last time the tournament was held here England won it, so there’s that natural home advantage," Atherton explained. "At the same time, playing at home brings extra scrutiny and pressure, which is inevitable." He went on to highlight the structural changes within the team: a new captain, a new coach, and a revamped management team.
"England have terrific players. They’re under new management, new captain, new coach. Charlotte Edwards will have them well drilled, I have no doubt about that. They have plenty of strength in depth and some top‑class talent, so they should be in the shake‑up," he said.
Atherton also noted the rising standard across all competing nations. "It’s a hard tournament to call. There are some very good teams. The standard across the board is improving all the time, so it’s getting more competitive.
Obviously Australia will be a very tough side to beat, but England with home advantage and some good players should be in the shake‑up." When asked which England players could make the biggest impact, Atherton singled out captain Nat Sciver‑Brunt as the pivotal figure. "The captain and the leader is a driving force and obviously one of the best players as well, which Nat Sciver‑Brunt is," he said. He added that opening bowler Lauren Bell will be crucial in exploiting English conditions with the new ball, and that young all‑rounder Devina Perrin, who impressed with a brilliant century in The Hundred’s eliminator at the Oval, could announce herself on the world stage.
England’s ambition for the tournament was echoed by teammate Heather Knight, who told Sky Sports that the goal is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country". Knight reflected on how the landscape of women's sport has transformed since the 2017 World Cup triumph, citing the Lionesses’ back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025 – the latter played before a sold‑out Wembley – and the Red Roses’ Rugby World Cup win 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 now and a chance for us to do something really special as a side," Knight said. She recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord’s, noting how massive home support helped shape that victory.
"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. Knight emphasized that the growth of the domestic game has provided a more professional pathway for women cricketers, making it "a lot more normal to be a women's cricketer" with greater visibility and support. She hopes that success at the World Cup will cement these structures and inspire a new generation.
"We want to do something similar and hopefully inspire kids to make a girl in cricket really normal and really great," she concluded. In summary, while England’s recent World Cup record may appear modest, the combination of a supportive home crowd, a refreshed leadership core, and a deep talent pool – highlighted by the likes of Sciver‑Brunt, Bell and Perrin – gives them a credible shot at reclaiming the T20 crown. The tournament will also serve as a platform to showcase the strides made in women’s sport across the nation, with the hope that a strong performance will cement a lasting legacy for future female cricketers.