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Sunday 5 July, 15:30
TV: Sky Sports
England v Australia Women's T20 WC final T20 team news
England have had a perfect campaign, winning all five in their group stage before outclassing South Africa in the semi-final. They had a net run rate of 2.134 in the group stage and overcame a slight wobble in the last four.
Much of England's game-winning ability has been built on the brilliant Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the opening berth. She is the top runscorer in the tournament. But in the semi against the Saffers they were in deep trouble with Wyatt in the shed at 23 for three. A familiar face produced a familiar rescue act. Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered a brilliant 75 from 47 just when the pressure was on.
The chase was never really on with two wickets apiece for Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean. We expect England to be unchanged.
Possible XI: Jones, Wyatt-Hodge, Sciver-Brunt, Capsey, Knight, Kemp, Gibson, Dean, Ecclestone, Smith, Bell
Australia also won their group, piling up a net run rate of 3.8. That's a whopper. As usual, no-one really gave them a contest. There was a hint of one in game one when South Africa reduced them to 62 for four but they still amassed 172.
They beat West Indies in the semi and didn't break sweat, restricting their rivals to 127. This was chased in 13 overs with Beth Mooney hitting a half-century.
Not surprisingly they have key performers at the top of key charts; Georgia Wareham for batting strike rate at 182, Wareham and Lucy Hamilton on bowling economy and Sophie Molineux third on the top bowler list at 10. They are a monstrous unit.
Possible XI: Voll, Mooney, Litchfield, Perry, Gardner, Wareham, Sutherland, Carey, Molineux, Garth, Hamilton
England v Australia Women's T20 WC final T20 pitch report
There have been 18 day women's T20 matches in the last three years at HQ across domestic and international. We do not expect a runfest with an RPO of 7.7. There is, however, a significant toss bias with 13 of those won by the chaser. This backs up the view that lord's can be sluggish and the side batting first can struggle to know what a good score is.
The first port of call, then, is to consider England's total runs a sell at 152.5 at 5/61.84 with Sportsbook. That would have been a winner in three of the last four meetings and with the pitch on side it has to be a serious consideration.
England v Australia Women's T20 WC final T20 match prediction
This is not expected to be a close affair if the Sportsbook odds are anything to go by, which they are. Australia are as skinny as 4/91.44 with England 7/42.75. It is not surprising.
They say that World Cups are tournaments which are played over a period of a few weeks and then Australia win. It's almost right. They are not the holders but have won three of the five editions.
Their record against England on the head-to-head in the last five years is five wins from seven. Only South Africa, also with two wins, come close to giving the Aussies a contest over the study period. India have beaten them three rimes but that's in 18 games.
With this Australia team you're looking at one of the most dominant sporting legacies of the modern era. But can they be beaten?
Only if that chase bias goes against them one suspects. There is a blueprint for England in that regard. In 2023 England beat Australia by five wickets at Lord's. They were chasing 155 and got over the line in a rain-reduced contest. This is very much a post-toss affair then and England can only be considered if it goes their way.
The real gulf between the two is seen in bowling economy. Australia conceded an average of 6.14, which is the best in the tournament. England are third at 6.85. It's Nos 1 v 2 on batting strike rate with Australia the quicker.
England v Australia Women's T20 WC final T20 player bets
Georgia Voll is one to watch for runs in the final. Voll began the tournament with a 33% win rate on top bat but one win later it is fair to say she is due another notch. She is seeing the ball perfectly well if some of her hitting is anything to go by. With Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry taking up much of the book, it is fair to say that Voll is underrated. Sportbsook offer 9/25.50 and that's a chunky price about an opener with her record.
For England, Sciver-Brunt is a follow. In the big games with the pressure on, the England skip can deliver. We don't often like to go back-to-back on top bat so the 11/102.11 that she score 30 or more is the option. It is possible she has to do another rebuilding job with Australia's new-ball attack potent.
Back Georgia Voll top Australia bat
Back Nat Sciver-Brunt 30 or more runs