Sri Lanka opt to bowl first in Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston 2026

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston in 2026.

Toss decision sets the tone Sri Lanka secured the toss and decided to bowl first under clear skies at Edgbaston as the Women's T20 World Cup opening match kicked off. England's captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, revealed she would have made the same call but emphasized her readiness to bat first following recovery from a calf injury. The hosts named three specialist spinners—Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Linsey Smith—with Lauren Bell leading the seam attack. 'We're really excited to create some new memories and enjoy ourselves,' Sciver-Brunt remarked at the toss. ## Sri Lanka reveals debutants early Sri Lanka announced their playing XI several hours before the toss, introducing World Cup debutants Malki Madara and Mithali Ayodhya. Captain Chamari Athapaththu explained the bowling-first decision was straightforward due to unfamiliar conditions and rain the previous day. 'We don't know these conditions and yesterday it rained,' she stated. The opening ceremony featured performances from the West End production of Wicked, including the iconic 'Defying Gravity', setting the stage for the tournament's competitive spirit. ## England's starting lineup revealed England's squad for the opener included Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, and Lauren Bell. The team focused on balancing batting depth and bowling variety, with Sciver-Brunt making her return after injury. The lineup reflected a mix of experience and emerging talent ahead of the tournament's start. ## Sri Lanka's squad for the tournament opener Sri Lanka named Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya in their XI. The squad featured a blend of seasoned players and newcomers, with Athapaththu leading the side in their first match. The team aimed to adapt quickly to the conditions while showcasing their competitive edge.