Michael Atherton, the veteran analyst for Sky Sports Cricket, believes that the England women's side possesses both the talent and the squad depth needed to mount a serious challenge for the Women's T20 World Cup when it returns to English soil next summer. While England have not lifted the T20 crown since they hosted the tournament in 2009, and suffered early exits in both the 2010 and 2024 editions, the former England captain sees a different story unfolding in 2026.
The last time England won the T20 World Cup on home soil was more than a decade ago, and the memory of that triumph still carries a natural home‑advantage aura. Yet Atherton points out that playing at home also brings heightened scrutiny, media pressure and the weight of public expectation. "It's a long time ago, but the last time it was held here in England, England won it, so there's that natural home advantage, but with it being at home comes a little bit of added scrutiny and pressure as well, inevitably," he explained.
England's recent record in the tournament has been underwhelming – group‑stage exits in both 2010 and 2024 – and the team has not secured an ICC trophy of any format since their 2017 50‑over World Cup victory on home ground. Nevertheless, the upcoming 2026 competition could mark a turning point. Head coach Charlotte Edwards is set to announce her final squad on Tuesday, and Atherton is confident that the new roster will be competitive.
"England have got 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've got plenty of strength in depth and some top‑class players, so they should be in the shake‑up," Atherton said.
He also highlighted the rising standard of women's cricket worldwide. "I mean, it's a hard tournament to call. There are some very good teams.
I think the standard across the board is improving all the time, so it's getting more competitive. Obviously Australia are going to be a very tough team 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. "It's very important at a home tournament, with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of pressure, a lot of expectation.
The captain and the leader as a driving force and obviously one of the best players as well, which Nat Sciver‑Brunt is," he noted. He also praised opening bowler Lauren Bell, whose ability to extract seam movement with the new ball in English conditions could prove decisive, and highlighted the emergence of young all‑rounder Devina Perrin, who impressed with a brilliant century in The Hundred eliminator at the Oval. "I expect to see a young player like her just really say: 'This is my time'," Atherton added. England captain Heather Knight has spoken about the broader ambition beyond the trophy itself.
She wants the tournament to leave a lasting legacy for women's cricket in the country, mirroring the recent successes of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. Knight noted that the landscape of women's sport has shifted dramatically since the 2017 World Cup win, with increased professionalism, larger crowds, and greater media visibility. "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 recalled the electric atmosphere of the 2017 final at Lord's, where a packed stadium amplified the significance of the victory.
"Home support was huge for us in 2017, the way the crowds built and the final at Lord's, it's super special. 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." Knight emphasized that the growth of the domestic game has created a more sustainable pathway for female cricketers.
The professional county structure, better facilities, and increased broadcast coverage mean that being a women's cricketer is now a viable career choice. "It took a little bit of time for that success to see changes and I think the landscape is very different now and – 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.
Both Atherton and Knight agree that success at the 2026 World Cup could inspire a new generation of girls to pick up a bat and ball. Knight hopes the tournament will normalize cricket for young women and encourage participation at grassroots level. "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." In summary, while England's recent T20 World Cup record may not look impressive on paper, a combination of home advantage, a refreshed leadership group, emerging talents like Perrin, and a supportive domestic framework could see the Lionesses become genuine contenders in 2026. The tournament offers not just a chance at silverware but also an opportunity to cement a lasting legacy for women's cricket across the nation.