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 central goal, she explained, is to "create a genuine legacy for women's cricket in this country," a vision that mirrors the recent successes of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. This will be the first time England has staged a women's cricket World Cup since the 2009 edition, a tournament that ended in triumph for the home side. The England women's team also delivered a historic home victory in the 50‑over Cricket World Cup in 2017, a campaign that Knight captained.
Reflecting on those moments, the 35‑year‑old captain noted how dramatically the landscape of women's sport has shifted over the past decade. She pointed out that the Lionesses captured back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium, while the Red Roses lifted the Rugby World Cup on a packed Twickenham pitch last September.
"The focus now is women's cricket at the World Cup, so it's really exciting," Knight said. "It's a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity, but for me it could be my second home tournament, and that makes it incredibly special." Knight highlighted the advantages of playing on familiar grounds with family and friends in the stands, and the boost that home‑crowd support provides. She recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord's, where the crowd grew steadily and the occasion felt "super special." She believes that a strong performance this summer could leave a lasting imprint on the sport, stating, "If we do our job right and have success this summer we can leave a real legacy on women's cricket in this country." Beyond the on‑field action, Knight emphasized the structural changes that have taken 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," she said. "The domestic game is professional, there is a clear pathway beneath the international level, and women's cricket is becoming a normal, visible career choice." She expressed confidence that the existing infrastructure will allow the team to capitalize on any success, noting that the achievements of the Lionesses and Red Roses have set a benchmark. "We've followed them closely and know some of the players," Knight added.
"We want to do something similar and inspire kids to see a girl in cricket as completely normal and truly great." The England side has struggled for form in recent weeks, but Knight insisted the squad is eager to regain momentum ahead of the home tournament. "The mood's really good," she said. "We haven't played much cricket this winter since the 50‑over World Cup, so we're itching to get back together, feel the rhythm of international cricket again, and build towards the T20 World Cup." She spoke about the importance of team cohesion and clarity of roles as they prepare. "It'll be fun to get back together as a group, decide how we want to play, and define each player's responsibilities," Knight explained.
"We also need to embrace the pressure of a home World Cup. We'll have many conversations about how to handle that pressure and how to attack the tournament from day one." In the lead‑up to the event, the sport has seen unprecedented grassroots engagement.
With just 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 bustling cricket festival at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, taking part in drills, friendly matches, and meeting aspiring young players. The day also featured educational 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 the medium of sport, reinforcing cricket's role as a vehicle for social development. ICC Chairman Jay Shah praised the enthusiasm building across the country, noting that the expanded tournament—now featuring 12 teams instead of 10—demonstrates a commitment to growing the women's game worldwide and providing more opportunities for players and fans. He said, "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." Gemma Barton, the ECB's head of strategic growth, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that events like Schools Cricket Day showcase how the Women's T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the sport. "Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is," she said.
"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, which will be held across England and Wales. The winning team will receive $2.34 million (approximately £1.74 million), while the runners‑up will take home $1.17 million (£871,000).
All twelve participating teams are guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,000), more than double the amount assured 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 this year, reflecting the tournament's expansion. Beth Barrett‑Wild, the tournament director, described the 2026 edition as a potential "landmark moment" for women's cricket, forecasting record‑breaking ticket demand and the largest ever prize pool for a global women's T20 competition.
She added that the event is on track to become the most attended women's cricket showcase in history. In summary, Heather Knight and the England women's cricket team are poised to leverage the home advantage, recent structural improvements, and a surge of grassroots enthusiasm to deliver a memorable tournament. Their aim is not only to compete for the trophy but also to cement a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations of girls to see cricket as a viable, celebrated pathway.