Women's T20 World Cup: Michael Atherton says England have the talent and squad to challenge for title on home soil

Sky Sports Cricket's Michael Atherton has said England possess the talent and squad to challenge for the Women's T20 World Cup title on home soil this summer.

The England Women side has not lifted the T20 World Cup since they last hosted the tournament in 2009, were knocked out in the group stage in 2024, and have not won an ICC trophy in any format since 2017, when they clinched the 50-over World Cup at home.

Head coach Charlotte Edwards will announce her squad for the 2026 tournament on Tuesday, and despite a difficult period for the side in recent years, Atherton feels they will be in the mix to win it.

"It's a long time ago, but the last time it was held here in England, England won it, so there's that natural home advantage, but with it being at home comes a little bit of added scrutiny and pressure as well, inevitably," Atherton said.

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"But England have got terrific players. They're under new management, new captain, new coach.

"Charlotte Edwards will have them well drilled, I have no doubt about that.

"They've got plenty of strength in depth and some top-class players, so they should be in the shake-up.

"I mean, it's a hard tournament to call. There are some very good teams. I think the standard across the board is improving all the time, so it's getting more competitive.

"Obviously Australia are going to be a very tough team to beat.

"But England with home advantage and some good players should be in the shake-up."

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'Sciver-Brunt, Bell and Perrin England's players to watch out for'

Sky Sports Cricket's Atherton on England's players to watch out for at the Women's T20 World Cup...

"I've got to go with the captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt. It's very important at a home tournament, with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of pressure, a lot of expectation.

"The captain and the leader as a driving force and obviously one of the best players as well, which Nat Sciver-Brunt is.

"Opening bowler Lauren Bell, in English conditions, opening bowling, it's very important to find that movement with the new ball.

"And a player who really took my eye last year in The Hundred, Devina Perrin, who made that brilliant 100 at the Oval in the eliminator - the game before the final - I expect to see a young player like her just really say: 'This is my time.'

Knight: Landscape of women's sport changed - England want World Cup legacy

Heather Knight has told Sky Sports England's ambition at their home Women's T20 World Cup starting in June is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," emulating the Lionesses and Red Roses.

The 35-year-old says the landscape of women's sport has changed considerably since 2017 and her side's World Cup triumph, with England's Lionesses winning back-to-back Euros titles in 2022 and 2025 - the first in front of a sold-out Wembley - and the Red Roses securing the Rugby World Cup title at a Twickenham full house last 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 told Sky Sports.

"Home support was huge for us in 2017, the way the crowds built and the final at Lord's, it's super special.

"It's a chance to have a real impact on the sport in your country and leave a legacy. If we do our job right and have success this summer we can leave a real legacy on the sport of women's cricket in this country.

"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 want to do something similar and hopefully inspire kids to make a girl in cricket really normal and really great."