Australia reasserts its dominance in women’s T20 cricket

The only two unbeaten teams in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup progressed to the final on July 5.

Australia were favorites by virtue of dominating performances in the tournament, only looking in jeopardy at 68 for three against India in their final group match, Elysse Perry coming to the rescue. England had home advantage and local support, although that was unlikely to faze the Australians. A nagging doubt about the England team was that it lacked depth by comparison.

Neither England nor Australia featured in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup final, the first time that had happened in nine editions. Similarly, neither were in the 2025 ODI World Cup in India, where the hosts triumphed. Australia had come into the tournament with some doubts about the fitness of its new captain, Sophie Molineux. Some observers even questioned her place, arguing that Alana King was a better leg-spin bowler.

Others were surprised that Molineux had been preferred over two established members of the team who had been interviewed for the post, suggesting that team harmony may be compromised. These potential chinks in the armor did not materialize publicly.

By the day of the final, Australia’s favorites tag was based on sound evidence. An Australian team has won six of the nine women’s T20 World Cups and has been beaten only once in a final — by the West Indies in 2016. In head-to-head matches against England since 2020, Australia lead six to three, whilst they hold a five-to-two advantage over England in the T20 World Cups, including three wins in the finals of 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Remarkably, prior to the final, they had won 26 of their 29 matches in the T20 World Cup since 2018, losing to South Africa in the 2024 semifinal and twice to