England are trying something different ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Something exciting but noteworthy. In an attempt to sharpen their mental edge before a home tournament, the England squad will undergo a multi-day Army training camp. This will be done at the expense of actual cricket.
As per Wisden, all 15 members of the T20 World Cup squad have been pulled out of the upcoming round of the One-Day Cup on May 2 to take part in the programme with the British Army. The aim is not about fitness drills alone, but about building decision-making skills, resilience and the ability to handle pressure in high-stakes moments.
Why will England team do Army training?
Managing director Clare Connor has clear explained the thinking behind the move. The camp, she said, is designed to expose players to a high-performance environment where they are pushed mentally as much as physically. Managing director of the England Women’s cricket team, Connor, said, “We have been working with the British Army over recent months to create a leadership programme for the World Cup Squad. The various elements of the programme will focus on decision-making, resilience and delivering high performance when the pressure is turned up.“
“We are extremely lucky to be able to send our newly selected World Cup Squad into one of the best high-performance environments in the world. I’m confident that what the players will experience and learn over the next few days will be priceless when it comes to performing in some of the pressure moments that a home World Cup will undoubtedly bring.”
England squad for 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup
Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
England take a page out of Pakistan’s playbook
Fascinatingly, the approach can be compared with Pakistan men’s team, who went through a similar Army-backed camp in 2024. Back then, the focus was largely on fitness. Players trained at the Army School of Physical Training in Kakul, going through intense routines that included endurance runs, obstacle drills, rope climbing and even military-style exercises.
PCB was worried about the players’ fitness and power-hitting, so they were sent to that camp. The camp was meant to make the team stronger physically, but it also had its own problems, like a few injuries right away. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi wanted players to hit big sixes.
England’s version, on the other hand, seems to be more suited to the needs of modern tournaments. Instead of making players do physically demanding drills, the focus is on being clear under pressure. When you play in a World Cup at home, you have to deal with a lot of pressure, expectations, and the need to stay calm when things get tough.
It also comes at a time when England’s workload management has already been under discussion. Several players have missed county games in recent weeks, either to rest or to take part in internal preparation matches.
England Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 12 | vs Sri Lanka Women | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| June 16 | vs Ireland Women | The Rose Bowl, Southampton |
| June 20 | vs Scotland Women | Headingley, Leeds |
| June 24 | vs West Indies Women | Lord’s, London |
| June 27 | vs New Zealand Women | The Oval, London |
