MOLINEUX TO LIVE OUT DREAM IN ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2026 FINAL
Media release
Sophie Molineux will fulfil a childhood dream when she captains Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final at Lord’s.
As a child, the all-rounder expressed to her dad a desire to watch a Test match at Lord’s. Now her father will be in the stands to watch her lead her side against England in a World Cup final.
This is Molineux’s first such occasion as skipper, as Australia chase a record-extending seventh T20 World Cup.
“It is really special,” she said. “I grew up watching Test cricket with my dad, and I said to him 15 years ago, I wanted to watch a Test match at Lord’s.
“Who would have thought that we would be running out and playing a World Cup final here in front of a packed crowd.
“For us, Lord’s is the home of cricket, and it is going to be a really special occasion.”
Australia, like England, have gone unbeaten on their way to the showpiece, including a T20 World Cup record chase of 171 against India in their final group-stage match.
They then comfortably defeated the West Indies in the last four but they have been made to sweat on the fitness of star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who retired out with ‘minor quad awareness’ during that match.
Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke hinted that Australia may play Perry even if she is not fully fit but Molineux kept her cards close to her chest after the 35-year-old came through training seemingly without a hitch.
She added: “She trained really well, had a good bat, had a good bowl, she will field as well.
“She trained well today, and we will assess tomorrow, see how she pulls up before we make any decisions.
“It would be great if she can bowl for us. But at the same time, with our bowling depth, we feel like we have got cover there.
“Her T20 World Cup so far with the bat, she has been incredible and has won us a couple of games with the bat. Even if she is not bowling, it will be a massive positive for us.”
Australia are back in an ICC Final for the first time since 2023, when they won the T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Successive semi-final defeats in both the T20 and ODI World Cups mean Australia do not hold either World Cup trophy, only the third time in history that has happened.
But Molineux believes that whatever the outcome against England, her Australia side have done themselves proud by getting back to this stage.
“It has been an incredible tournament so far for this group and whatever happens tomorrow, happens,” she said.
“I think we are going to walk away really proud of the type of cricket we have played over the last few weeks.
“The girls have played with freedom, they have been brave. We have played a really amazing team game of cricket, we can take so much away from this tournament.
“In terms of legacy, if we get over the line tomorrow, that will only add to that.”
Australia’s loss to eventual champions India in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 marked the end of their seven-year stranglehold on one or both of the ICC World Cups.
It also marked the start of a rejuvenation for Australia, which sets them up well for a tilt at another title.
Molineux added: “The lessons we took out of that semi-final we have held close to us for the last six or seven months.
“The way the group has been able to grow over the last three or four months has released the shackles a little bit, to use our class, to use our skill.
“It is a very smart cricket team, they know what they are doing. The biggest thing has been the growth in that area.
“We know if we want to play in these big games, we are signing up for pressure, and we have put a lot of effort into being able to manage that and cope with that.
“We have been able to use that during different points of the World Cup, and we will have to do that again. I have full faith in everyone to be able to do that.”