ENG vs AUS T20 Women’s World Cup Final: Australia win toss, opt to bowl against England

Australia captain Sophie Molineux won the toss and elected to bowl first against England women’s cricket team in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, backing her side to make early use of the fresh surface at Lord’s.

“We’re going to have a bowl,” Molineux said at the toss. “Beautiful day out here, and we want to get out here, have a run around, and hopefully put some pressure on them early. There was plenty of discussion, but in the end you have to go with your gut. I don’t think the pitch will change too much.”

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Australia has named an unchanged XI, with veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry declared fit after retiring hurt with a quad issue during the semifinal against the West Indies. Molineux confirmed Perry had “pulled up really well” after training on the eve of the final.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted she would have liked to bowl but was comfortable batting first.

“It’s a fresh wicket, runs on the board in a final is no bad thing,” Sciver-Brunt said. “We’re unchanged. It would be silly not to lean on the experience in our group. What wins it today? One more run than the opposition, I suppose.”

The pitch is expected to offer some assistance to the seamers early, with a light covering of grass and dry conditions underneath, while warm weather and a gentle breeze should make for ideal playing conditions.

ENG vs AUS T20 Women’s World Cup Final: Playing XIs

England: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell.

Australia: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton.