Women's T20 World Cup predictions: Who will win, England's MVP and more

Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher and Tash Farrant predict how far England will progress, pick out their players of the tournament and suggest a team to provide a shock; watch the ICC Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports

>Who will win the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup? How will England fare? And who will finish as the leading wicket-taker and top run-scorer?

>We've asked Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher and Tash Farrant all of this and more as they give their tournament predictions ahead of the opening game.

>Watch the opening game of the Women's T20 World Cup - England versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston - live on Sky Sports Cricket on Friday from 6pm (first ball at 6.30pm).

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>Farrant: I don't think they're quite at the level to win the tournament. But I expect them to top their group and at least make the semi-finals.

>Butcher: I expect England to be extremely competitive.

>The group that they found themselves in is very favourable when you consider that Australia, India and South Africa are all in the opposite group.

>My feeling is that they'll be playing Australia or India in the semi-finals, where all bets are off.

>Atherton: I expect them to get to the semi-finals, but I wouldn't be confident of them progressing further.

>Group A: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa

>Group B: England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, West Indies

>Hussain: I see England getting out of their group, which you'd argue is the weaker of the two - albeit with the holders New Zealand in it.

>England have beaten them, and other teams of a similar level with regularity in bilateral series, but it's in the big tournaments, when it really matters, that they've recently been found wanting.

>Atherton: Nat Sciver-Brunt. Obviously, as captain and England's leading batter, she is hugely important. Her fitness is a real concern, having only recently returned to the side.

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>Hussain: Nat Sciver-Brunt. She won't be able to bowl, especially at the start of the tournament, but purely as a batter she is absolutely world-class.

>She is such a consistent player, very rarely does she go through a lean patch. I see her having a huge impact, and if England are going to win it, she'll need to have a good tournament.

>Butcher: Hard to look past the obvious names in Nat Silver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone.

>Linsey Smith also has an incredible record in T20 cricket, particularly in the powerplay, and I think Charlie Dean is a brilliant all-round cricketer.

>They've got plenty of players who can win a T20 game on their own.

>Farrant: I'm going to go down a different route. It's Freya Kemp and Danni Gibson, for me.

>We know what Nat Sciver-Brunt can do but, finally, England have got some other all-rounders in those two and I think their addition could make the biggest difference.

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>Atherton: It's hard to look beyond Australia, India and South Africa... albeit only two of them can progress from Group A.

>Hussain: Australia. Ever since I've been covering women's cricket, they've been the best side - and arguably one of the world's great sporting teams.

>They've got a new captain in Sophie Molineux, so she'll be under a little bit of pressure, but they're still a very, very strong side.

>They've missed out at the last two world events, so they'll be very keen to put that right.

>Farrant: I'm going to stick my neck out and go for South Africa.

>They are slight underdogs, as they are in the tough group, but I think they have the potential to probably pip India to the post in getting through to the semi-finals.

>They made the last two T20 World Cup finals, as well as the 50-over final just gone. I just have a feeling this is their time.

>Butcher: I think there are four teams that are capable of winning it: England, Australia, India, South Africa. You struggle to look past them.

>Farrant: I think Scotland could create a couple of upsets in England's group - albeit probably not against England.

>They've got quite a few players who play in our domestic system, so it's almost like a home World Cup for them as well.

>Butcher: New Zealand surprised everybody when they won it the last time. But I'd probably look at Sri Lanka this time out.

>They could be a very dangerous side. Chamari Atapattu, in particular, has the ability to win games by herself. They might squeak into the final four.

>Hussain: Sri Lanka beat England in a bilateral series last year, and Pakistan are also capable of springing a surprise - they're really improving under their captain Fatima Sana.

>Unfortunately for them, they are in the harder group, so I'm going to pick West Indies. They knocked England out in the last T20 World Cup in Dubai... they have Deandra Dottin back, and Hayley Mathews is a top player.

>Atherton: Laura Wolvaardt is my pick for leading run-scorer. The South African batter is an exceptional player and consistent run-scorer.

>England seamer Lauren Bell has been in great form and has a chance to get wickets at either end of the innings, with the new ball and at the death.

>Hussain: Annabel Sutherland deserves a mention, but I'm going to go with Lauren Bell as wicket-taker, while for leading run-getter it's hard to look beyond Beth Mooney at the top of the order for Australia. She's just been so consistent over the years in this format

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>Farrant: I'm going to go with Linsey Smith as leading wicket-taker and as for highest run-scorer, Phoebe Litchfield.

>I also think Alice Capsey will have a really strong tournament. She's played for England for quite a few years now, but I think this is her time to really put a marker down. We all know the potential she has, but it's time for her to show us what she can really do on the big stage.

>Butcher: There are so many terrific individual players out there.

>To name a few, there's Hayley Matthews of West Indies, Annabel Sutherland of Australia, a fabulous player, and India have Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues.

>But I'm going with Sophie Ecclestone. I think this is going to be her tournament, and if she goes well then England have a great chance.

>Atherton: I'm going to go for New Zealand's Amelia Kerr. All-round excellence and she's in great recent form since taking over the captaincy of the White Ferns.

>Farrant: It's hard to fathom what it could do.

>England winning this tournament would create household names, icons, like the Rugby World Cup win did with Ellie Kildunne, and the Lionesses with the likes of Chloe Kelly.

>Hussain: I think what's happened is unstoppable in women's cricket.

>For England to win - especially with the football World Cup on at the same time - I think it would just reinforce to any young woman and girl growing up that cricket is a serious career opportunity now.

>Butcher: The landscape for women's cricket has pretty much changed out of all recognition since England's 50-over World Cup win in 2017.

>The game is so much more prominent in the public eye than it was back then. It would be no less an achievement if they were to do it again.

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>Atherton: An England win would just accelerate the growth of the game. There has only been two previous Women's World Cups in England - and both have resulted in a win for the home team, the second in 2017 in particular having a transformative effect. This would do the same.

>Everyone can stream all 12 group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup live for FREE on the Sky Sports App.

>All you have to do is download the latest version of the Sky Sports App onto your phone or tablet and log in.

>Watch every ball of the Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW from June 12-July 5. England play Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on opening night (6.30pm start).