England’s iconic 2017 World Cup win in their own words

June 11, 2026 No Comments

England’s iconic 2017 World Cup win in their own wordsPublished24 minutes agoImage source, Getty ImagesByMatthew HenryBBC Sport JournalistWhen the T20 World Cup begins on Friday, it will be the first women’s World Cup in the UK since England famously won the 50-over title in 2017.Everyone remembers the iconic final at a sold-out Lord’s – one of the most significant days in the history of the women’s game.

But leading up to it there was the dropping of legendary captain Charlotte Edwards, a poor opening-day defeat by India, a tense group stage and a nail-biter of a semi-final against South Africa.

This is the story of England’s 2017 World Cup triumph, told by those who were at the centre of it – captain Heather Knight, openers Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill and bowler Anya Shrubsole.

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Injuries, blocked by the stewards and a defeat – the shaky start

Knight was named captain a year before the World Cup after coach Mark Robinson moved on from Edwards and experienced batter Lydia Greenway. However, two months before the tournament, Knight broke her foot on a training camp and spent much of the build-up in a protective boot.

Beaumont: “After those two were left out of the squad in 2016, Robbo and Heather pitched it brilliantly.

“From that moment it was about the whole squad going on a journey and that journey was about eventually singing our team song at Lord’s.

“It started 12 months out on horrendous fitness sessions at Bradgate Park near Loughborough carrying logs up and down hills.

“That shared suffering really brought us together to the point that going into the tournament we knew the entire team inside and out.”

Knight: “I remember it clearly, being pretty stressed I wasn’t going to be fit or have enough time to prepare.

“I even got sent to an A game to play against Sri Lanka to try and get time in the middle.

“I remember seeing the psychologist before the first game and voicing that I was worried and stressed about my form.

“I wanted to find a way to let go and be at my best. It was a really good conversation and allowed me to free up.”

Heather Knight takes one glove off and looks despondent after her dismissal against India — Image caption,

England conceded 281-3 against India in their tournament opener and were bowled out for 246 in a 35-run defeat

Build-up was also disrupted when Lauren Winfield-Hill was hit on the wrist by New Zealand bowler Lea Tahuhu in their final warm-up match and ruled out of the tournament opener against India. England lost by 35 runs.

Knight: “It wasn’t a great day. The stewards at Derby wouldn’t let us in the ground because we didn’t have the right accreditation.”

Winfield-Hill: “We were completely caught off guard and shell-shocked in that first game. It almost brought us the wake-up call we needed.”

Beaumont: “I also spoke to the sport psychologist about the ‘what ifs’ that could derail me.

“Then in the first week, all of my what ifs went wrong.

“I wasn’t going to be opening with Loz, my favourite bat broke – all silly things that I look back on now, but as a 25-year-old they were really, really important.”

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A captain standing up and The Destroyer

Katherine Sciver-Brunt celebrates a wicket against Australia — Image caption,

England scored 259-8 against Australia before Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Jenny Gunn defended 22 from the last two overs to secure a three-run win

After waiting only three days to play again, England found their groove by piling up 377-7 against Pakistan with, crucially, Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt hitting centuries. Victories followed against Sri Lanka, South Africa and, for the first time at the World Cup since 1993, Australia.

Knight: “I knew I had to lead from the front and be quite aggressive. Myself included, we got a bit safe in that first game.

“The big one was that game at Bristol when we beat Australia. It was when there was real belief.

“We had a few tight games where we managed to get the job done and loads of different people contributed at different times.”

Winfield-Hill: “You never underestimate how much that feeds into the group, when your captain is performing.

“It was not necessarily the stats but Heather leading with bravery.

“That was the big turning point.

“We spoke about going into our shells and playing safe and Heather embodies being courageous and brave which is so infectious for a group.”

Beaumont: “We were always more than the sum of our parts.

“Alex Hartley – The Destroyer – had a knack of getting out the big batter of the opposition.

“She got Meg Lanning, Suzie Bates, Harmanpreet Kaur. It was almost like every single game she got the big wicket, found that way.”

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The semi-final where fate almost intervened

With momentum building, victories against New Zealand and West Indies set up a semi-final against South Africa. England were going well at 139-2 in pursuit of 219 until an announcement on the PA system that the final at Lord’s had just officially sold out. Almost from that moment, England lost 4-34 to leave their chase in peril.

Winfield-Hill: “I remember hearing that and thinking if we’re not there it’s going to be an absolute disaster.

“You are just trying to fake it, look all chilled, but inside I remember feeling so sick that the dream could be over.

“The psychologist was in the dugout and just trying to keep the language really strong and positive.

“There was an undertone of gut-wrenching anxiety of whether it is slipping from our grasp.”

Beaumont: “I was sitting on the balcony sitting next to Sarah Taylor after she got out and we had far too much nervous energy.

“We were dancing in our seats every time the music came on.

“It looked a bit relaxed but the minute the camera was off I was shouting ‘Hartley get your thigh pad off! You’ll run faster’.

“She was looking scared.”

Knight: “It was the worst 40 minutes I have ever had in my life watching cricket. I just felt sick.

“I was next to Sarah and Tammy who were being very annoying. They were bundles of tension and I like to be quite calm and relaxed.

“Robbo had this thing in a chase in a big game where he would knock the bottles over and each bottle would be 10 runs…”

Beaumont: “You hated that…”

Knight: “I wasn’t a huge fan but that day I was loving it.

“It was an awful 40 minutes knowing you couldn’t do anything about the result and you knew what was at stake.”

Anya Shrubsole and Jenny Gunn hug on the pitch after sealing victory against South Africa — Image caption,

Gunn ended 27 not out as England chased 219 in a two-wicket win over South Africa

Jenny Gunn and Fran Wilson put on a crucial 40 but the loss of more wickets meant Shrubsole emerged with England needing two runs from the final three balls with two wickets left.

Winfield-Hill: “I play that carve through the off side in my mind all of the time…”

Beaumont: “The best thing is we all knew that is what Anya was going to do.

“She is going to walk into channel, cannot be out lbw, and she is going to get bat on it.”

Shrubsole: “Genuinely, Jen and Fran set the game up for us and [Shabnim] Ismail bowled it in the one place I could have hit it.

“If it was anywhere else I might have struggled. I don’t even know what to call it.”

Winfield-Hill: “The bunt…”

Shrubsole: “Why they didn’t have a deep cover I will never know.

“It was a terrible piece of captaincy.”

Knight: “Talking of Jenny Gunn, it was Val that day.

“Jen has an alter ego called Val. When her bun is a bit skew-whiff it is Val not Jenny. Val was always going to get the job done.”

Winfield-Hill: “Jen wouldn’t have got the job done but Val definitely would.”

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Wicked and Saving Private Ryan – the final preparations

The win verified England’s place in the final. India joined Knight’s side by stunning Australia in the second semi-final two days later. England had five days to prepare for the biggest match of their lives.

Shrubsole: “I love musicals and we were in London so I went to watch Wicked and The Lion King. It was quite nice to get to London and watch the other semi-final unfolding.”

Knight: “The night before the final we didn’t know what to do with ourselves and were spending hours trying to decide what we were going to have for dinner, decide what film to watch.

“We picked Saving Private Ryan which is three hours long and we started at 9pm so all had a panic that we weren’t going to sleep.

“We cut the movie off and everyone went to bed. I certainly laid there and had no chance of sleeping for a little while. The build-up was worse than the day.”

Winfield-Hill: “The thing I remember is pulling my kit out of the laundry and it was really crinkled and I was like ‘oh yes, this is fine’.

“Courtney [Winfield-Hill’s wife] was like ‘no, Loz, you can’t play a World Cup final with your shirt like that.’

“I remember her doing the ironing to make sure we at least looked the part. I also remember her cutting hair.

“It was quite good because she’s a bit of a clown so it took your mind off. Courtney doing my ironing and opening a salon in the bathroom.”

‘The closest I have come to tears’ – the morning like no other

The teams line up at Lord's before the 2017 World Cup final — Image caption,

England had only reached one of the previous five 50-over World Cup finals

A capacity crowd of about 25,000 attended the final at Lord’s – the historic home of cricket where women were not allowed to enter the Long Room as members until 1999. Before the final there were various ceremonies to celebrate the women’s game.

Beaumont: “We had the minute’s silence for [legendary former England captain] Rachael Heyhoe Flint, who passed away six months before, and then [former England bowler] Eileen Ash ringing the five-minute bell.

“That is the closest I have come to tears. I had to go and open the batting in a World Cup final and was saying ‘pull yourself together’.

“That is probably the proudest moment of my life.

“That day wasn’t about the XI or 15 going onto the pitch. It was about any woman that has ever played for England or will in the future.”

Winfield-Hill: “I remember pulling in and [touts] were selling tickets outside.

“I had never played in a game or been to many female sports where you are getting people trying to get last-minute tickets outside.

“We went out to bat first and I remember thinking in a World Cup final the tone is so important.

“I remember thinking ‘be really calm and portray some good composure for the changing room’.”

Beaumont: “That moment and the first ball of the game will stick with me forever.

“There is that moment of silence and a moment where Loz, I and the 11 on the pitch know what has happened and then the crowd reacts.

“That split second of silence is the feeling you can never get again. It was just the best feeling in the world.”

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Shrubsole’s moment of history

England beat India at Lord’s to win 2017 Women’s World Cup

England battled to 228-7 but India looked destined for glory at 191-3, needing 38 from 44 balls. Up stepped Shrubsole. The seamer took 5-11 in 19 deliveries to finish with 6-46 as India were bowled out for 219. Even when Gunn appeared to have dropped a crucial chance, Shrubsole wrapped up the win next ball to seal jubilant scenes.

Knight: “The original plan was to get a couple of overs out of Anya and then go to Katherine to be honest.

“Anya just had this look in her eye where I didn’t need to say anything.

“It was like no nonsense, ‘don’t say anything to me, don’t distract me, let me get on with my job. I will bowl straight with the odd slower ball.’

“I didn’t do anything at all. Anya ran the show. She was very calm even when Jenny dropped the World Cup.”

Shrubsole: “When I came back on for that spell they hit a wide ball over point for four and a full ball for four.

“From that point on I went as simple as possible.

“Veda [Krishnamurthy] was trying to be attacking and I thought I was going to try and bowl slower balls to the batters that are in and if we get new batters in bowl full and straight and make the batters make a mistake.

“It was as simple as that.

“Poonam Yadav missed a straight one which always helps.

“Hartley got a wicket in the next over and then we got two wickets in the next, Veda, which was a massive wicket, and Jhulan [Goswami] with a ball which was not what I was trying to bowl.”

Beaumont: “I love that the girl who gets 6-46 in a World Cup final didn’t mean any of it. It is just so Anya…”

Shrubsole: “I meant some of it…

“We had got through those games that were really tight whereas India had won really comfortably or lost badly. They didn’t have those close games.

“It felt like we were more battle hardened than they were.”