Heather Knight recently sat down with Sky Sports to discuss England's ambitions for the upcoming home Women's T20 World Cup, which kicks off in June. Her message was clear: the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants the tournament to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," mirroring the recent successes of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby.
The 2026 event marks the first time England has hosted a women's cricket World Cup since the 2009 edition, a tournament that England won. It also follows the women's side's triumph in the 2017 50‑over World Cup, a competition that Knight captained to victory. Reflecting on those milestones, the 35‑year‑old captain noted how dramatically the environment for women's sport has evolved in the intervening years.
She pointed out that the Lionesses clinched back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter played in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium. Likewise, the Red Roses lifted 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," Knight told Sky Sports. "It's a once‑in‑a‑career moment, and for me it could be my second home tournament.
Playing on familiar grounds with friends and family in the stands, feeling the home‑soil conditions and the roar of local supporters – that is priceless." Knight recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord's, where crowds swelled and the atmosphere was "super special." She believes that a successful campaign this summer could leave a lasting imprint on the sport across the nation. "If we do our job right and achieve success, we can leave a genuine legacy for women's cricket in England," she said. Beyond the on‑field excitement, Knight highlighted the structural changes that have taken place within the women's game. "It took a little time for the earlier successes to translate into real change," she explained.
"Now the domestic game is professional, the pathways are clearer, and it's becoming normal for a woman to pursue cricket as a career. Visibility has increased dramatically, and that matters for the next generation." She emphasized that the ECB is keen to replicate the model set by the Lionesses and Red Roses, inspiring young girls to see cricket as a viable and exciting option. "We want to make being a girl in cricket feel normal and great," Knight added.
The England women's side has struggled for consistency in recent months, but Knight stressed that the squad is eager to regroup and build momentum ahead of the tournament. "We haven't played much cricket this winter after the 50‑over World Cup, so we're itching to get back together, feel the rhythm of international play again, and fine‑tune our strategies for the T20 World Cup," she said. "We'll have plenty of conversations about handling the pressure of a home World Cup and how to attack the competition from day one." Off the pitch, the build‑up to the tournament is already generating enthusiasm among young people.
With just 50 days left until the opening match, more than 236,000 children from over 1,350 schools across the UK participated in Schools Cricket Day, the largest one‑day cricket participation event in the country's 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 meet‑and‑greets with aspiring players.
The event also featured educational games created by UNICEF under its "Rights in Play" programme, which used cricket activities to teach children about their rights. ICC chairman Jay Shah praised the initiative, saying it was "fantastic to see the excitement building across the UK ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026" and noting that the expanded tournament – now featuring 12 teams instead of 10 – reflects a commitment to growing the women's game globally.
Gemma Barton, the ECB's head of strategic growth, added that moments like Schools Cricket Day illustrate how the tournament is shaping cricket's future. "Every child picking up a bat today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is.
It's not just about this summer; it's about the next generation of girls playing, teams expanding, and more people feeling they belong in the sport," she said. Financially, the ICC announced a 10 percent increase in the total prize fund for the 2026 edition.
While the winners will still receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million) and the runners‑up $1.17 million (£871,000), every participating team is now guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), more than double the amount offered in 2024. This boost follows a 134‑percent rise in prize money for the top two teams between 2023 and 2024, when New Zealand claimed their first T20 World Cup title. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild described the 2026 event as a "landmark moment for the game," predicting it will become the most attended women's cricket event ever, with record ticket demand and the largest prize pot for a global women's T20 competition to date. In summary, Heather Knight and the England women's cricket team are poised to use the home World Cup as a catalyst for lasting change.
By leveraging improved professional structures, heightened visibility, and a surge of grassroots participation, they aim to cement a legacy that will inspire future generations of female cricketers across the nation.