Four grassroots cricket teams from across Yorkshire were given a moment to remember on Sunday when they joined the spectacular launch of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on London’s Waterloo Bridge, just days before the tournament arrives at Headingley.
Bowling Old Lane Softball, LSK Softball, Hunslet Nelson and UFCC Softball, all chosen by the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, were among the fans and players invited to take part in street cricket and interactive games as the bridge was transformed into a live cricket pitch for the first time in its history.
All 12 captains of the competing nations gathered on a purpose-built pitch against the backdrop of Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye for a Captain’s Carnival that marked the official launch of the tournament, which begins on 12th June.
England Captain Sets The Scene
England Women’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was among those on the bridge and spoke about the excitement building ahead of a home tournament.
“Playing cricket on Waterloo Bridge isn’t something you get to do every day,” she said. “It’s a special way to kick off a home tournament, that’s for sure. The excitement has been building for such a long time now and the squad is ready. We’ve put in the hard work, the practice and the performances now over several months, and we just can’t wait to get out there in front of the crowds and give it everything we’ve got.”
Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild described the launch as surreal in the best possible way. “We turned Waterloo Bridge into a cricket pitch and assembled 12 of the best female players on the planet, alongside hundreds of fans, to play on it,” she said. “The excitement is building every day, and with fans already snapping up tickets in record numbers, the tournament is shaping up to be one of the unmissable events of the summer.”
What’s Coming To Headingley
For Yorkshire cricket fans, the tournament lands at Headingley from Wednesday 17th June with a double-header that opens with Australia v Bangladesh before India take on the Netherlands.
But the match that will really capture the imagination is on Saturday 20 June, when England face Scotland at Headingley – one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures and a genuine must-see occasion for anyone within travelling distance.
Tickets are available now at tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com, and given the record pace at which they’ve been selling, booking sooner rather than later is strongly advised.
The Full Tournament
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 runs from 12th June to the final at Lord’s, with matches played across six host venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), Headingley (Leeds), Old Trafford (Manchester), Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), Bristol County Ground and The Oval (London).
The 12 competing nations are England, India, Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
For more Yorkshire sport and events news, visit The Yorkshire Press. For a full guide to Leeds, including places to eat and things to do around Headingley on match day, see our Leeds guide.
