It was a heart-stopping final that left fans on tenterhooks, but for England Women's head coach Charlotte Edwards, there's more to celebrate than just a narrow margin of defeat. Despite being trounced by Australia at Lord's, the T20 World Cup final, Edwards reckons her team has managed to win back the hearts and minds of supporters – and that's no small feat.
England were well and truly outplayed by their opponents, who chased down a target of 151 with ease, reaching it in just 17.1 overs. Beth Mooney was the catalyst for Australia's dominance, blasting 64 runs from 49 balls. But Edwards is choosing to focus on the positives – the journey, not just the destination. "I couldn't be prouder of my group or where we're at," she told BBC Test Match Special, highlighting a significant shift in public perception. "People are talking positively about this team now whereas they weren't when I took over, and that's because of the work and effort that the players have put in behind the scenes."
The massive crowd of 28,887 spectators at Lord's was testament to the renewed connection between England Women and their fans. Edwards believes that her team has worked tirelessly to rebuild bridges with supporters, who were left disillusioned after a difficult Ashes campaign in 2025. That series saw England suffer a crushing 16-0 multi-format points defeat – a period marred by criticism over their fitness, fielding, and attitude. But Edwards is adamant that the narrative has now shifted back to cricket. "We're not talking about fitness or fielding anymore," she said, exuding confidence. "I wanted us to talk about the cricket."
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was visibly emotional after the match, but her sentiments mirrored those of her coach – pride, despite the disappointment of defeat. "I'm stood here hugely disappointed. We've had such a great competition up to this point so to end like that feels a bit sour in the mouth," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. But Sciver-Brunt also praised the team's unity and camaraderie – qualities that Edwards believes are key to their future success. "Our time will come," Edwards confidently declared.
Australia's victory marked a return to their ruthless best – having exited at the semi-final stage in the previous two World Cups. Edwards acknowledged Australia as the benchmark setters in world cricket, but expressed excitement about the road ahead for England Women. With a renewed connection with their fans and a newfound focus on their cricketing performance, one thing's for sure – this team is back on track.