'A huge moment' - Can England seize Women's T20 World Cup opportunity?

ICC Women's T20 World Cup: England want to emulate Lionesses and inspire more women and girls to play cricket ahead of tournament It is set to be a blockbuster summer for England as they embark on their ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Friday against Sri Lanka, before they play in their first-ever Test match at Lord's; watch the ICC Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports Thursday 11 June 2026 08:19, UK Women's cricket is on the rise. But this summer's ICC Women's T20 World Cup is set to bring even more eyes to the sport. The growth of the women's game in the UK and globally has been astronomical over the past few years, particularly after England's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup victory in 2017. Nat Sciver-Brunt's side are excited about the possibility of being able to follow in the footsteps of the side that won in 2017 as they embark on their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign this week. - Scorecard: England vs India, T20I, Cardiff - Sciver-Brunt says England can learn from in-form Capsey - Stream T20 World Cup matches FREE via Sky Sports App - Watch the Women's T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports and NOW England take on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston at 6.30pm on Friday, live on Sky Sports. The game will mark the start of a blockbuster summer, and one in which England hope can inspire more girls and women to play cricket. "That 2017 Women's World Cup was a bit of a catalyst for growth for domestic cricket in our country, and I guess for participation as well," stand-in England captain Charlie Dean said. "It was a huge moment for me watching on. I felt inspired by the players to pursue cricket and really go for it. "I think if we can be that for any girls or boys watching on, then it is a huge moment for us." For Charlotte Edwards' squad, it is also a huge opportunity to end a 17-year-long wait to end their ICC Women's T20 World Cup trophy drought, with England bounding in confidence coming into the tournament, following two T20 series victories against defending world champions New Zealand and India. "We want to put in good performances and really connect with fans on and off the pitch, because it is a great opportunity," Dean said. Why is it so important to get young girls playing cricket? Sky Sports' Game Changing Report in 2025 revealed girls aged between 11 and 18 in the UK are missing out on playing 280 million hours of sport each year, compared to boys. That's an astronomical figure, but if that gap can be closed, it could unlock £6.5bn in economic and health benefits by 2035. Sky Sports' research also suggests that playing sport can be just as strong an indicator of women reaching senior professional positions as a university degree. As part of the research, 55 per cent of girls say watching professional athletes inspires them to play sport, and that's why this ICC Women's T20 World Cup is so important. Hussain: Lord's Test match will continue momentum It is also vital that the story continues after this year's ICC Women's World Cup final at Lord's on July 5, to maintain engagement with fans and those new to the game. A week after the World Cup's showpiece, England will make history and play against India in the first-ever Women's Test match to be hosted at Lord's. After that, The Vitality Blast Women continues until late July before The Hundred gets underway on July 21. England also have a bumper schedule in 2027, with the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy getting underway in June in Sri Lanka, before the women's Ashes in July. "I was here in 2017 with my daughter's team, and it was a great story," former England captain and Sky Sports Cricket analyst Nasser Hussain said. "The two things about that are that the story pretty much ended then, and we wanted a bit more. The other thing was that a lot of women and young girls would have left that day thinking: 'Cricket is cool', and it did. "My daughter and her team left. Going: 'Cricket's really cool. I want to play cricket'." More than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the India Test match at Lord's, showing just how much demand there is to see Edwards' side in action. "I don't think there's enough Test match cricket played in the women's game," Hussain added. "But to have a Test match, India against England, to have it here at Lord's, the crowds will hopefully come flocking in for that; it keeps the momentum going. "Sometimes you have these major tournaments, and then it stops, and people go: 'What's next?' "Then you've got The Hundred as well, which has been hugely important to the women's game, but it just keeps the story going. "Maybe when Heather Knight lifted the trophy here in 2017, it was a great story, but it ended straight away. This summer, we've got the ICC T20 Women's World Cup, we've got the Lord's Test and we've got The Hundred as well. "Can you imagine being a young woman playing the Lord's test match against India, everyone coming in, hopefully flooding through the gates?" Farrant: England's role models are inspiring people to play Former England bowler and Sky Sports Cricket analyst Tash Farrant believes the likes of Lauren Bell and Nat Sciver-Brunt can also help boost the game's profile this summer. Farrant added that some of the role models and superstars within the England group, including the likes of Lauren Bell and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, will also help boost the profile of the women's game this summer. "It's also the household names like Lauren Bell - she's got over two million followers on social media, Nat Sciver-Brunt - the best all-rounder in the world. "For me, it's about boosting the icons of the game, and then you're going to have young girls seeing these icons and realising: 'I want to be them'. There is a genuine career path in cricket, so that's what it can do." Dean: We want to emulate the Red Roses and the Lionesses England are hoping to emulate the Women's Rugby World Cup champions, the Red Roses, and the UEFA Women's European Championship winners, the Lionesses, as they embark on their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign. "Last summer was massive for Women's sport. To have the opportunity to potentially replicate that is fantastic," Dean said. "The Red Roses were exceptional last year and they have continued their form as well. "The following and the growth of women's sport is massive. The Lionesses are probably up there as some of the biggest sporting teams in the world, and if we can follow in their footsteps and inspire girls to play and enjoy sport, that's what we want to do." Stream T20 World Cup matches FREE Everyone can stream all 12 group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup live for FREE on the Sky Sports App. All you have to do is download the latest version of the Sky Sports App onto your phone or tablet and log in. Download the Sky Sports App on: Watch every ball of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW, starting with England vs Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Friday, June 12.