3 Veterans who might be playing their last Women's T20 World Cup final
Ellyse Perry and Sophie Molineux (Source: ICC)
Published - 04 Jul 2026, 04:46 PM• Read time - 2 mins
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final is just one sleep away. While excitement is building for the clash between England and Australia at Lord’s, it could also mark the last time we see some of the game’s greats on this stage. With the next edition scheduled for Pakistan in 2028, here are three veterans who may not feature again in the marquee tournament.
1. Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest allrounder. She holds the record for the most matches played at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with 53 appearances. If she takes the field in the final against England, it will be her 54th outing at the event. Perry is 35 years old, and her body has started to feel the toll of decades of international and domestic cricket. She was forced to retire hurt in the semifinal against West Indies due to “minor quad awareness.” With Perry already in the twilight of her career, it seems unlikely that she will still be around for the 2028 edition.
2. Heather Knight
Heather Knight has been a cornerstone of England’s batting. She has played 34 Women’s T20 World Cup matches, the second-most for England. At 35 years old, Knight looks unlikely to feature in Pakistan in 2028. Her record is impressive: 657 runs at an average of 31.28, a strike rate of 114.26, including one century and two fifties. Knight holds England’s middle order together in this format, but age and the demands of the game suggest this could be her last appearance in a World Cup final.
3. Megan Schutt
Megan Schutt has already signalled that this tournament will be her final ICC event. In May, she stated that the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup would be her last, making it unlikely she will reconsider for 2028. Schutt has taken 48 wickets in 30 T20 World Cup appearances. She would love to reach the 50-wicket milestone in the final, but that seems improbable as the team management has given her only one game in this edition, showing she is no longer part of their preferred XI.