England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes her side can “capture the nation” during the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil this summer.
Exactly 100 days from the start of the tournament on June 12, Sciver-Brunt spoke of her hope that England can follow in the footsteps of the Lionesses and Red Roses successes of the past few years.
The England women’s football team won the Women’s Euros in both 2022 and 2025 – serving as tournament hosts for their first triumph – while the Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year, also on home soil.
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Congratulations poured in for England’s Red Roses after winning the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
“It’s a home World Cup, and the energy you get from being in front of a crowd that is really behind you is so special. It’s an addictive feeling,” Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports News.
“It’s an amazing time for women’s cricket. And over the last few years, we’ve had loads of our women’s sports teams do brilliantly well – the Lionesses and Red Roses – so hopefully we can be next in line to do something really special for the country.
“I’m hoping we capture the nation for the summer.”
The first ball of the Women’s T20 World Cup will be bowled at Edgbaston on June 12 as England take on Sri Lanka in the opening game – and, on Wednesday, Sciver-Brunt was joined by team-mates Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Filer at the famous Birmingham ground to mark the 100-day countdown.
To mark the occasion, Edgbaston transformed its iconic scoreboard into a huge 100-day countdown, while countdown scoreboards also appeared simultaneously at cricket grounds across the various other host cities in the UK – as well as the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (Australia), Eden Gardens (India) and Gaddafi Stadium (Pakistan).
“It’s so exciting. 100 days to go now, it really makes it real,” Dunkley said.
“If I’m lucky enough to be there in that squad, it’s going to be a momentous occasion and hopefully a pinnacle for women’s cricket in this country.”
England’s women’s team have made a habit of winning when hosting a global ICC tournament, with three of their four 50-over World Cup triumphs coming at home – most recently in 2017 – and when claiming the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009.
The aim is to emerge victorious yet again come the final at Lord’s on July 5.
England’s women won the 50-over World Cup when last serving as hosts in 2017
“Our target is to bring the trophy home,” Filer said.
“We’ve seen it done before; England obviously won the 50-over World Cup at home in 2017, and we saw the impact that had on cricket and the country as a whole. That’s what we want to do going into this T20 World Cup.
“I’m super excited. It’s such a big prospect for the women’s game, and I just think it’s going to push the women’s game even further.”
Marking 100 days to go till its start, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “In just 100 days, England and Wales will host the best female cricketers on the planet, for an unmissable sporting spectacle.
“With over 115,000 tickets already sold, excitement and momentum is building behind a tournament that’s ready to capture the hearts and minds of the nation and propel women’s cricket firmly into the sporting mainstream.”
Watch every match of the Women’s T20 World Cup in England from June 12 to July 5, live on Sky Sports Cricket. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.
