At a glance
- England Women target T20 World Cup glory at home after years of near-misses
- Heather Knight highlights transformation of domestic cricket and The Hundred impact
- ECB backs long-term growth as women’s cricket participation surges across UK
England captain Heather Knight believes this summer’s T20 World Cup on home soil offers a rare chance to reshape the future of women’s cricket across the UK, as she reflected on lessons learned since the landmark 2017 triumph at Lord’s.
Nearly a decade on from that famous final, Knight is preparing to lead her side once again, with the tournament set to begin in 50 days when England face Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.
Sri Lanka arrive having been battle tested in their ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh, a contest that has kept them sharp in 50 over cricket even as attention begins to shift toward the shorter format. This time, however, the skipper senses a very different landscape around the women’s game.
Heather Knight Eyes Lasting Legacy on Home Soil
Speaking to BBC Sport, Knight acknowledged that the success of 2017 did not fully translate into lasting structural gains at the time. Domestic cricket was still largely non-professional, limiting the immediate impact of that historic victory.
She pointed to the shortcomings of that period when discussing how much has changed since.
“I think there probably wasn’t the structure in place to really maximise it in 2017.
“We’re in a completely different place now. There is that real scaffolding and it’s a lot more normal to be a woman in sport, which is really exciting and hopefully we can capitalise on it a little bit more.”
Today, the picture looks dramatically different. With a fully professional domestic system now in place and competitions such as The Hundred driving visibility and raising standards, Knight says the sport can now build something enduring.
Domestic Transformation Fuels England Belief
She pointed to the transformation within the domestic game over the past nine years as evidence of meaningful progress. Investment has deepened, pathways have strengthened and the presence of women in elite sport has become far more visible and accepted.
Despite that growth, England have endured a frustrating run on the global stage. Final defeats to Australia in the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20 and the 2022 50-over World Cup, along with semi-final exits in 2023 and 2025, have kept major silverware out of reach. A group stage exit in 2024, after West Indies secured victory, deepened the sense that England have yet to fully realise their potential.
Knight remains optimistic that recent reforms, including changes to the county structure, will provide the consistency and depth needed to convert progress into results. Reflecting on the impact of investment and structure, she told BBC Sport:
“We’ve seen over the last few years how investment and having the right structures, with The Hundred and the domestic set-up, puts the game in a really good spot,”
“If you get that right, the rest will follow.”
At the administrative level, the England and Wales Cricket Board shares that outlook. Head of Strategic Growth Gemma Barton emphasised that legacy building is already underway rather than dependent on the outcome of the tournament.
She highlighted the scale of recent growth while speaking about participation figures across the country.
“We aren’t waiting until the tournament to find out if England win to see whether we can create legacy.
“Last year, 24,000 women’s fixtures were held across England and Wales. That growth has taken time, but now we’re reaping the rewards.”
Experience and Inspiration Driving England Forward
For Knight, the upcoming World Cup carries a different emotional weight on a personal level. As a veteran of 10 global tournaments, she is actively avoiding the pressure of treating each campaign as a potential farewell.
Reflecting on her mindset shift in recent years, she explained:
“I put a lot of pressure on myself before, thinking this might be my last one, and it wasn’t particularly helpful,”
“Now I just want to live in the moment and contribute as much as I can.”
That clarity of mindset could prove vital as England aim to harness the energy of a home crowd. Knight spoke of the inspiration drawn from recent home successes by the England women’s national football team and the England women’s national rugby union team, whose achievements have captured national attention.
Looking ahead to the opportunity in front of her side, she added:
“There’s nothing better than playing in a home World Cup,”
“If we can be successful, we can leave a legacy for women’s cricket in this country. It’s a huge opportunity and one we’re really excited for.”
The stage is set. This time, victory is not the only aim, but rather that a lasting impact is ensured long after the final ball is bowled.
Stay up to date with all the latest internaional cricket content with ReadCricket
