England begin the Women’s T20 World Cup at home with high hopes, and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has acknowledged the expectation that comes with it while insisting her team sees it as a privilege.
A strong record on home soil
England have played in four ICC tournaments on home soil and won every one of them. That list includes the 2009 T20 World Cup, still their only title in the format, and the memorable 2017 ODI World Cup triumph.
Sciver-Brunt on the weight of expectation
Speaking ahead of the opener, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, Sciver-Brunt said pressure is coming from every direction. She listed being the host nation, leading at a home World Cup for the first time, the recent success of the Lionesses and the Red Roses in their own tournaments, and the general state of women’s cricket.
Even so, she described that pressure as a privilege. She said women’s cricket is waiting for a platform on which to expand, and that the 15 players in the squad happen to be the ones with the chance to provide it. She added that the group is concentrating on staying calm in the dressing room despite outside scrutiny.
Sri Lanka happy as underdogs
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu said her team arrives as underdogs because they still have something to earn. She felt England would carry more pressure as hosts playing a first game in familiar conditions, whereas her side has no such burden and simply needs to play fearless cricket.
The two sides meet in the tournament opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday, June 12.
