Heather Knight says England aren't favourites for Women's World Cup

Heather Knight admits England will not be favourites for this summer's ICC Women's World Cup but hopes her side will be contesting the final.

England will have home advantage in the tournament, which runs from June 24-July 23, and will face India in the opening match in Derby.

Knight believes her side are in a good position to challenge for the trophy but is expecting stiff competition from defending champions Australia, New Zealand and World T20 champions West Indies.

"I think we'll probably go in not as favourites and we'd openly admit that," the England captain told Sky Sports News HQ.

"It's hard to look past Australian, New Zealand and the West Indies - who won the ICC WorldT20 - but we'll go out there trying to win it and hopefully be there in the final at Lord's"

Knight is also ready to renew the rivalry with Australia, with an away Women's Ashes series to follow the World Cup.

She added: "There is a lot of rivalry [with Australia].

"A lot of us played in the last Big Bash and in the one the previous year so there are now also those added friendships there.

"But when we're on the pitch together there is a massive rivalry - probably the biggest in cricket - and then after the World Cup we have got the Ashes, so it's going to be a massive year for that England v Australia rivalry."

Knight was speaking at Lord's on International Women's Day as the schedule for the World Cup was released.

"There is no better place to have the next women's international trophy," Knight said.

"I think the fans in England are probably the best supporters of the women's game all around the world. Hopefully, a lot of people will watch us all over the four grounds where we play the group games.

"It will be a real boost for our team and there will be the added pressure of having to perform at a home World Cup. But we've talked about it, we want to embrace that challenge and play some brilliant cricket.

"If we do well I think it's also a great opportunity to get more young girls playing cricket. The women's game is in a really healthy place at the moment.

"It's been amazing and a real privilege to be part of the growth over the last few years. There's a lot being done to get more girls playing and I think having a World Cup is a massive opportunity for us and the ECB to capitalise on that and get more people watching the game and more girls playing the game."