It must not have been easy. Sitting out with an injury when she should have been out there captaining the team.

England did well enough during Nat Sciver-Brunt’s absence after she got injured, against Ireland in the team’s second match at the Women’s T20 World Cup. And she came back to the team, in true Sciver-Brunt style, with a big match-winning knock, that too when England was in considerable trouble against South Africa in the semifinal.

She has to play another starring role in the final, against Australia at Lord’s. “My feelings about walking out there at Lord’s – I am sure, they will be very emotional about the day,” she said. “It is obviously a huge occasion; we have worked really hard to get to this point and I am so excited to be able to walk through that Long Room with the girls and know that we have got each other’s backs. I am really excited about it.”

She admitted it would be tough against Australia. “Every time we come up against Australia, it is going to be a tough battle,” she said. “Both teams have got players that have got massive experience in the game, and also some youngsters who are massively talented as well.”

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She is glad that her team is a nice blend of youth and experience. “We have had some great performances from Freya (Kemp) and Dani (Gibson), obviously, with the bat, taking the game on in the last five-six overs,” Sciver-Brunt said. “And Kemp has been bowling really well and sticking to her skills.”

She said the presence of a senior player like Heather Knight, with whom she shared that century partnership against South Africa, was important for England. Knight had been criticised by some, though.

“Heather is such a crucial player for our side,” she said. “Not only does she have massive experience in the game, and especially experience of getting England out of a hole, she has obviously worked on her game hugely as well and wanted to improve her skills so that she can up her strike rate if needed. And sort of play the situation, as and when really, and have the confidence in herself to do that.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s match with a most familiar rival, Sciver-Brunt said, “Finals like this don’t come around that often.”

Published on Jul 04, 2026