Phoebe Litchfield relishing first World Cup final after injury return

Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield says playing in her first senior World Cup final "feels like a long time coming" after injury disrupted her ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign. Speaking at Lord's ahead of Sunday's title decider against England, the 23-year-old reflected on overcoming a quad injury and the hunger within a changing Australian side to reclaim the trophy.

Litchfield addressed the media after Australia's training session on Friday, where optimism also grew over Ellyse Perry's fitness after the veteran all-rounder completed an extensive session despite suffering a quad issue in the semi-final against West Indies. England, meanwhile, arrive unbeaten too, with former captain Heather Knight insisting her side will use memories of their 2017 World Cup triumph as inspiration rather than pressure.

Litchfield admitted she initially assumed World Cup finals would become routine after breaking into Australia's senior side in December 2022. Instead, she has witnessed an unusually challenging period for one of cricket's most successful teams.

Australia lifted the Women's T20 World Cup in 2023 before suffering semi-final elimination in the 2024 edition and missing out on last year's ODI World Cup final. That sequence means several current squad members, including Litchfield, are preparing for their first global final.

Her own tournament has mirrored that feeling. Litchfield opened the campaign with a half-century against South Africa before a recurring quad strain ruled her out of Australia's next three matches. Since returning, she has made 24 against India and four in the semi-final against West Indies, but says she feels close to rediscovering her best rhythm.

"I probably haven't found my feet with the bat just as yet," she admitted, adding that only a few decisions had prevented bigger scores after feeling comfortable in the nets.

Litchfield also offered an encouraging update on Perry, whose availability remains one of the biggest selection questions before the final.

The experienced all-rounder retired hurt with a quad problem during Australia's semi-final victory but batted extensively in the nets at Lord's and completed sprint drills on Friday. Head coach Shelley Nitschke has already indicated Perry could feature even if she is not fully fit.

Litchfield described Perry's preparation as typically meticulous.

She said the all-rounder had devoted an entire recovery day to treatment and was doing everything possible to ensure she could take the field on Sunday.

Australia have every reason to want Perry available. She enters the final as the tournament's fifth-leading run-scorer, with 185 runs at an average of 46.25 and a strike rate above 135, including two half-centuries.

England's route to the final has been equally impressive, culminating in a commanding semi-final victory over South Africa built around a match-winning century partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight.

Knight, no longer captain after England's difficult Ashes tour of Australia in 2025 prompted major changes, believes the squad can still benefit from the experience of winning the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup at Lord's.

Only Knight, Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge remain from that victorious squad, but she feels their memories of succeeding on the biggest stage can help a younger group.

She stressed that England should not become consumed by history, however, pointing instead to the fresh identity developed under new head coach Charlotte Edwards.

Knight noted that large crowds for England women are now commonplace compared with 2017, making this generation more accustomed to the spotlight. While acknowledging the significance of another home World Cup final, she said the team simply wants to produce its own chapter in England women's cricket.

Sunday's final brings together the tournament's two unbeaten teams and arguably the strongest squads in women's cricket over the past decade.

Australia arrive seeking to reassert themselves after consecutive disappointments in global tournaments, while England are chasing their first World Cup title since 2017 under a revamped leadership group led by Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Litchfield's return to fitness adds depth to Australia's batting, but Perry's availability could yet prove the defining selection decision. England, meanwhile, hope their blend of youthful confidence and proven experience can finally end a run of World Cup final defeats against Australia across formats.

The stage is set for another chapter in women's cricket's biggest rivalry, with both teams convinced they have evolved significantly since their last Ashes meeting 18 months ago.