Michael Atherton, the former England captain who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports Cricket, believes that the England women's side possesses both the skill set and the depth of talent required to mount a serious challenge for the Women’s T20 World Cup when it returns to English soil next summer. While the Lionesses have not lifted the T20 trophy since they hosted the competition in 2009, and suffered group‑stage exits in both 2010 and the most recent 2024 edition, Atherton is confident that the combination of home advantage, a refreshed leadership group and a new generation of players will see them back in the mix for the 2026 tournament. The last time England won the T20 World Cup on home ground was in 2009, a triumph that still resonates with fans and players alike. That historic success created a natural belief that playing in familiar conditions can provide a subtle edge – the pitches, the weather and the supportive crowds all contribute to a sense of ownership over the event.
However, Atherton cautioned that the flip side of playing at home is the heightened scrutiny and pressure that accompany a nation’s expectations. "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 format has been mixed. After the 2009 victory, the team stumbled out of the group stages in 2010, repeated that disappointment in the 2024 edition, and has not secured any ICC trophy in any format since the 2017 50‑over World Cup, which they also won at home.
The period between 2017 and now has been described by many as a challenging one for the Lionesses, with a series of coaching changes, captaincy rotations and a need to rebuild the squad’s core. Yet Atherton highlighted that the side now enjoys "terrific players" under a fresh management structure.
Head coach Charlotte Edwards, a former England captain herself, is set to announce the official squad for the 2026 competition on Tuesday, and Atherton expressed full confidence in her ability to prepare the team. "Charlotte Edwards will have them well drilled, I have no doubt about that," he said.
Depth and quality are two of the pillars Atherton identified. He noted that England boasts a strong bench and several world‑class performers who can turn a match on its head. "They've got plenty of strength in depth and some top‑class players, so they should be in the shake‑up," he added.
When asked about the overall competitiveness of the tournament, Atherton acknowledged that the global standard is rising across the board. "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," he concluded.
Atherton also singled out a few individuals he expects to be pivotal. The captain, Nat Sciver‑Brunt, will carry the dual burden of leadership and performance in front of a home crowd, a role that Atherton described as "very important at a home tournament, with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of pressure, a lot of expectation." He praised Sciver‑Brunt as both a driving force and one of the best players in the squad. Opening bowler Lauren Bell, according to Atherton, will be crucial in exploiting the new‑ball movement that English conditions traditionally offer.
Additionally, he highlighted the emergence of young all‑rounder Devina Perrin, who impressed with a brilliant century in The Hundred’s eliminator at the Oval last year. "I expect to see a young player like her just really say: ‘This is my time,’" Atherton said.
Beyond the on‑field analysis, England’s captain Heather Knight spoke about the broader ambition of creating a lasting legacy for women’s cricket in the country. Knight emphasized that the landscape of women’s sport has evolved dramatically since the Lionesses’ 2017 World Cup win. The successes of England’s women’s rugby team (the Red Roses) and football team (the Lionesses) – including back‑to‑back Euro titles in 2022 and 2025 for football and a Rugby World Cup triumph at Twickenham for rugby – have raised the profile of women’s sport overall. Knight said, "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 also reflected on the power of home support, recalling the electric atmosphere at Lord’s in 2017 when crowds swelled and the final felt like a national celebration.
She believes that a successful campaign this summer could cement a "real legacy" for the sport, inspiring a new generation of girls to pick up a bat and ball. "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 said. The professionalisation of the domestic women’s game, increased media visibility and a more robust pathway from grassroots to the international stage are all factors that Knight believes will help sustain any momentum generated by a World Cup triumph.
In summary, while England’s recent T20 World Cup outings have been disappointing, the combination of a supportive home environment, a refreshed leadership team, and a pool of talented players – from seasoned stars like Sciver‑Brunt and Bell to emerging talents such as Perrin – gives the Lionesses a credible chance to challenge for the title in 2026. As Atherton put it, "England have got terrific players… they should be in the shake‑up," and with the added motivation of creating a lasting legacy for women’s cricket, the stakes and the excitement are higher than ever.