Women’s T20 World Cup: England chases glory against a marauding Australia

The Globe Theatre is just five miles away from Lord’s. Cricket’s most famous ground has witnessed, in its long history, moments that could compare well with the drama of a Shakespearian play.

Also read | Women’s T20 World Cup: Skipper Sciver-Brunt’s knock takes England into the final

Most of them have involved men’s cricket. Women haven’t played as much cricket at Lord’s. But times are changing. Remember, in Shakespeare’s time, women were not even allowed to perform on stage, though he penned some of literature’s greatest female characters.

Lord’s, in fact, is going to host next week its first-ever Women’s Test match, between England and India. The Englishwomen are unlikely to be thinking of that game yet, though.

They are focused completely on a game played in a much shorter format: the Women’s T20 World Cup final against Australia on Sunday (July 5, 2026).

For all the interest a final involving India would have generated, especially in a country of a billion cricket fans, there surely could not have been a bigger contest to end what has been a fascinating tournament.

The final fits the bill in every way. The best side against the host, which also happens to be the second-best team. The game’s oldest rivals. A team whose talent is so deep, it is unreal, against a side that has some exceptional players and is captained by one of the most skilful, competitive women that has ever played cricket.

Her teammates will indeed be hoping for another superwoman effort from skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who had led them from the front to take them to the final. After a rare top-order failure, she put the England innings back on the track, and with ample support from fellow-veteran Heather Knight, registered a total that would prove far too much for South Africa.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who didn’t click in that game, is still on top of the run-charts. The seam of Lauren Bell and the spin of Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean, has served England well.

As for Australia, this is one of those great teams in sporting history that can intimidate any opposition. Runs could come anywhere. So could wickets.

Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, captain Sophie Molinuex, Phoebe Litchfield… It is not easy to prepare for players like that.

But, the England women will be backed by its supporters. And they have the Lionesses and the Red Roses, their sisters in football and rugby respectively, to draw inspiration from.