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The countdown to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has entered its final phase, with the prestigious tournament scheduled to be held across England and Wales from June 12 to July 5. The month-long competition will bring together the best teams and players in women’s cricket, promising high-intensity contests, memorable performances, and a global celebration of the sport. With conditions in England expected to test both batters and bowlers, experts have already begun predicting which stars could leave the biggest mark on the tournament.
Former England captain and renowned cricket commentator Nasser Hussain is among those looking ahead to the competition. Hussain has identified Australia’s star batter as his favourite to finish as the leading run-scorer and England’s pacer as the most likely candidate to top the wicket-taking charts.
Nasser Hussain predicts leading run-scorer and highest wicket-taker
Speaking on ICC, Hussain backed Australian batting star to once again showcase her consistency on the biggest stage. The left-handed batter has established herself as one of the most reliable performers in women’s cricket and boasts vast experience in English conditions.
“If you’re as good and talented and consistent as Beth Mooney, you’re going to get a lot of runs. And she’s played a lot of cricket in England. She’s played a lot of cricket, full stop. But she’s played a lot of cricket in England. I’m going to go Beth Mooney,” Hussain said.
Mooney’s record in T20 cricket speaks for itself. Over the years, she has played crucial innings in major tournaments and has repeatedly delivered under pressure. Her ability to anchor an innings while maintaining a healthy strike rate makes her one of the most dangerous batters in the competition.
For the bowling honours, Hussain turned to England fast bowler . Despite many teams strengthening their spin departments for the tournament, he believes pace bowlers will continue to play a decisive role, particularly those who operate with the new ball and at the death.
“They are going to play a lot of games and you want someone bowling in the Powerplay, the chance of getting wickets, and someone bowling at the death chance of getting wickets. So I’m going to go Lauren Bell. She’s really worked hard on new ball bowling, swinging it out now and in, but she can do both, and at the end, as we saw in this recent series, a lot of slower balls and cutters,” Hussain added.
Bell’s ability to swing the ball early and execute variations in the closing overs has made her one of England’s most important bowlers heading into the tournament.
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Established stars and rising talents ready to shine
While Hussain has singled out Mooney and Bell for individual honours, the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to feature a host of world-class performers and exciting young prospects. Established names from Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies will compete alongside emerging talents eager to announce themselves on the global stage.
The combination of experienced match-winners and fearless youngsters is expected to make the tournament one of the most competitive editions in Women’s T20 World Cup history. With packed stadiums, passionate crowds and some of the game’s biggest stars in action, fans can look forward to a month of thrilling cricket across England and Wales.
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.
