Ladies’s T20 World Cup: England’s Heather Knight says panorama of girls’s sport completely different to 2017 and targets legacy like Lionesses, Crimson Roses

Heather Knight has instructed Sky Sports activities England’s ambition at their residence Ladies’s T20 World Cup beginning in June is to “create a real legacy for women’s cricket in this country,” emulating the Lionesses and Crimson Roses.

England are internet hosting the event for the primary time since 2009 – a World Cup they gained – whereas the ladies’s aspect additionally succeeded in delivering residence glory within the 50-over Cricket World Cup format in 2017 – a event Knight was captain at.

The 35-year-old says the panorama of girls’s sport has modified significantly within the years since, with England’s Lionesses successful back-to-back Euros titles in 2022 and 2025 – the primary in entrance of a sold-out Wembley – and the Crimson Roses securing the Rugby World Cup title at a Twickenham full home final September.

“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 instructed Sky Sports activities.

“I might say it is as soon as in a profession, however that is in all probability going to be my second [home tournament] hopefully all going properly, and it is simply actually particular taking part in at residence, family and friends all capable of come, you are very acquainted with the grounds and the circumstances and clearly you could have that residence assist which is essential.

“It was big for us in 2017, the way in which the crowds constructed and the ultimate at Lord’s, it is tremendous particular.

“It is an opportunity to have an actual affect on the game in your nation and depart a legacy. If we do our job proper and have success this summer season we will depart an actual legacy on the game of girls’s cricket on this nation.

“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.

“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 need to do one thing comparable and hopefully encourage children to make a woman in cricket actually regular and actually nice.”

The England Ladies’s cricket aspect has struggled for kind not too long ago, however Knight added they’re decided to enter a World Cup on residence soil with gusto and deal with all the pieces that comes with it.

“The mood’s really good, we haven’t had a huge amount of cricket this winter since that 50-over World Cup so we’re actually itching to get out together as an England side, get the feel of international cricket again and build towards that T20 World Cup.

“It will be actually enjoyable to get again collectively as a bunch and try to get actually clear on how we will play and the roles we will play, issues like that.

“Trying to embrace the pressure of a home T20 World Cup, it’s going to be really important, I’m sure we’ll have lots of conversations leading into the competition about how we’re going to deal with that and how we’re going to maximise it and really attack that tournament.”

Historical past made as over 236,000 youngsters participate in UK’s largest ever faculties cricket day

With 50 days to go till the World Cup, over 236,000 youngsters from over 1,350 faculties throughout the UK picked up a bat and ball as a part of Colleges Cricket Day on Thursday – the most important single-day cricket participation occasion in UK historical past.

On the coronary heart of the celebrations, Knight joined over 200 ladies and boys at a vibrant cricket competition hosted at Raynes Park Sports activities Floor in London, participating in cricket drills and matches and assembly aspiring younger gamers.

The day additionally featured bespoke assets and video games created by the ICC’s international charity associate, UNICEF, by its ‘Rights in Play’ programme. The video games, which had been built-in into the day’s actions, targeted on rising understanding of kid rights by play and participation in cricket.

ICC chairman Jay Shah, mentioned: “It is fantastic to see the excitement building across the UK ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Schools Cricket Day, marking 50 days to go, has brought thousands of children into the game, many of whom may be taking their very first steps in cricket today.

“Increasing this yr’s event from 10 to 12 groups displays our dedication to rising the ladies’s sport globally and creating extra alternatives for gamers and followers alike.

“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.”

ECB head of strategic development, Gemma Barton, mentioned: “Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game.

“Each woman and boy impressed to select up a bat and ball right now can see how inclusive, welcoming and enjoyable cricket is. It isn’t simply concerning the summer season forward, it is about what comes subsequent: extra ladies taking part in, extra groups rising, and extra individuals feeling like they belong within the sport.”

Report complete prize fund for Ladies’s T20 World Cup

The ICC introduced a ten per cent improve from 2024 within the complete prize fund for the Ladies’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales this summer season.

This yr’s winners will win $2.34m (£1.74m) with the runners up taking residence $1.17m (£871,024), the identical earnings because the final version, nevertheless all taking part groups are assured to obtain a minimal of $247,500 (£184,245), greater than double what was assured to every workforce in 2024.

Whereas the winners and runners-up prize pot stays the identical as in 2024, notably, there was a 134-per-cent improve in prize cash for the highest two groups that yr in comparison with 2023 when it was held in Australia.

When New Zealand took the highest prize in 2024, successful their first T20 World Cup, the entire prize pot for the event stood at $7.958m (£5.926m), however with the growth to 12 groups the prize cash has additionally grown to a pot of $8,765m (£6.528m).

“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a landmark moment for the game – on course to become the most attended women’s cricket event in history, with record-breaking ticket demand and the largest-ever prize pot for a global women’s T20 competition,” mentioned event director Beth Barrett-Wild.

Whole prize cash breakdown

Winners: $2,340,000 (£1,742,238.11)

Runners up: $1,170,000 (£871,119.05)

Shedding semi-finalists: $675,000 (£502,568.68)

Group match win: $31,154 (£23,195.59)

Assured prize pot for all 12 groups: $247,500 (£184,275.18)