Litchfield issues warning to England ahead of T20WC decider

Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield has issued a warning to England ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final at Lord's by declaring all the pressure is on the tournament hosts in the title decider.

Australia and England enter Sunday's final on six-game unbeaten runs following undefeated starts to the tournament that included impressive semi-final victories over West Indies and South Africa respectively.

England will enjoy the majority of the crowd support playing the final at home in London and Litchfield believes this will add more pressure onto them as they aim for a second T20 World Cup title after they won the inaugural event also at Lord's back in 2009.

"I think so," Litchfield said on Friday when asked whether the pressure is all on England.

"It's weird. Pressure, it's so fickle, right?

"It's all what you feel, but I think as a home side, I don't know what it feels like, but I think they're probably just going to relish it. It's going to be an amazing atmosphere out here.

"And yeah, if I was them, it's probably just to enjoy it. You know, we've both made it to the final, so the best team will win on the day and they're just lucky that they've got a home crowd, I guess."

Australia have won the Women's T20 World Cup on six occasions, with three of those titles (2012, 2014, 2018) arriving via victories over England in the final. The Aussies also have the recent wood on England, with the side having swept the last Ashes series Down Under at the start of last year that included a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20I portion of the series.

Litchfield is wary of an improved England side, with skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards now in charge of the team that was thrashed in Australia during that recent Ashes series.

"Yeah, (they are) playing some really good cricket," Litchfield said.

"If you look at the both teams have played throughout the tournament, you'd say that these two are the best sides, which is, I guess, really nice that we get to fight each other in the final.

"And I think for the fans that come out, it's going to be a superb match regardless of the outcome.

"So I'm pretty excited to be able to play in it, but I'm sure the 30,000 that come along will see a pretty cool performance too."

And with the stakes so high in the T20 World Cup Final, Litchfield is expecting both sides to be tested heavily under the increased pressure.

"We've both seen a bit of pressure, but I think both teams probably haven't been tested to the extent of a final," she added.

"The pressure and the high stakes cricket is going to bring out the best of each team and hopefully we see that on Sunday."

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