England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is hoping it will be 2017 all over again when her side play in another Lord’s final – but Saving Private Ryan is unlikely to be a factor this year.
England won the 50-over World Cup at the famous London ground back in 2017 when then skipper Heather Knight presided over a nerve-jangling nine-run victory over India – a game in which Sciver-Brunt top-scored for the hosts with 51 from 68 balls.
Now Sciver-Brunt is aiming to lead her side to a first global title since then, as well as a first T20 World Cup trophy since 2009, when they take on the mighty Australia on Sunday, a team they have lost eight straight games against and have not beaten for three years.
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As England and Australia get set to meet again, we look back at their encounter in the 2018 T20 World Cup final
The 33-year-old Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge were part of the success nine years ago – the latter was in the squad but not in the XI for the final.
Sciver-Brunt says thoughts for the trio are likely to drift back to that memorable July day but suggests the team will probably not revisit their pre-game movie choice.
“We watched Saving Private Ryan in the team room in 2017 – I am not really sure why – and we only managed half of it because it’s a long film,” said the England skipper in her pre-match press conference.
“I don’t know if I will have time for the rest of that film [on Saturday] night. Danni and I’s lives have changed considerably since then [after becoming parents]. We may not be able to prepare in the same way.”
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Sky Sports’ Tash Farrant and Nasser Hussain look at whether England can beat the mighty Australia in Sunday’s Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s
‘England a very different team from last T20 World Cup’
War films out, then, but Sciver-Brunt is “ready for a battle” on the pitch and says “standing up and going toe to toe with Australia is the only way”. She hopes to use the “noise and energy” from the home crowd in their favour.
Australia have won all six of their World Cup finals – 20-over and 50-over – against England and spanked their rivals 16-0 in the multi-format Ashes series in 2025.
That drubbing came months after England had been bundled out of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the group stage following an error-strewn fielding display against West Indies.
Sciver-Brunt captained England during the run chase with Knight off the field nursing an injury she had sustained while batting.
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Highlights from The Oval as England beat South Africa by 40 runs to reach their first T20 World Cup final in eight years
The current skipper, who succeeded Knight last summer during a period of change that also saw Charlotte Edwards replace Jon Lewis as head coach, insists England are now a “very different team”.
She said: “We are much more composed and confident. We have been put under pressure and come out the other side, through what our batting coach calls the nitty-gritty moments.
“The levels of confidence people have in their own ability to be able to put their skills on display regardless of who we are playing has been what I am most proud of.
“So many different people have had their moment to shine and show what they can do. Everyone has had success in the tournament that they can draw on [for the final].”
Heather not only has massive experience in the game, especially in getting England out of a hole, but she has worked on her game hugely, wanting to improve so she can up her strike rate if needed and play the situation as and when. She is a hugely crucial player four our side.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on Heather Knight
Sciver-Brunt: Comfort levels at Lord’s can help England
Lord’s is a venue more familiar to England’s players than it was in the past, largely due to it staging London Spirit’s home games in The Hundred. It also hosted England’s 38-run win over West Indies in the group stage on June 24.
“The spectacle has not worn off but it is probably not as high as it once was so using those experiences and comfort levels should help,” Sciver-Brunt added.
“It’s going to be a big occasion but it’s why we’ve done everything we have done so far, everything we’ve worked on to try and get us to this point.
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England captain Sciver-Brunt returned from injury to score a sparkling 75 from 47 balls in the semi-final win over South Africa
“Being part of the 2017 final, we have spoken in a similar way about trying to be present in the day and enjoying yourself as much as you can. That is what I have been trying to instil in everybody.
“I’m sure my feelings will be very emotional. I am so excited to walk through the Long Room with the girls and know we have got each other’s backs.
“Finals like this don’t come around that often so we will be relishing the challenge.”
Watch the Women’s T20 World Cup final between England and Australia, at Lord’s, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 2.30pm on Sunday (3.30pm first ball). You can also watch the match live for FREE on the Sky Sports App and skysports.com.
