England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt expressed her bowlers' frustrations over their warm-up routines being disrupted by singer Rita Ora, who will headline the Women’s T20 World Cup closing ceremony on Sunday. The performance is set for 2:30-3pm, just 30 minutes before the final match between England and Australia.

Despite being allowed on the main ground before and after the performance, the bowlers must relocate to the Nursery Ground during the ceremony. This shift poses a challenge, as players typically prefer marking their run-ups and completing drills on the main practice square before such a significant match.

• Closing ceremonies featuring performances have become standard at International Cricket Council finals, with Ricky Martin performing prior to the men’s T20 World Cup final in March.
• Sciver-Brunt noted, “People like to bowl before the game on one of the bowl through wickets. We had a few chins down (when they found out).”

In contrast, Australia captain Sophie Molineux remained upbeat, quipping, “I’m assuming if Rita Ora is here, we can evacuate the dance floor, that’s for sure.” Australia, aiming for a record-extending seventh T20 crown, has historically dominated England, winning all six previous white-ball World Cup finals against them.

Molineux acknowledged the challenge ahead but emphasized the significance of the day, stating, “We know it’s going to be an incredible challenge, but it’s also going to be a really special day just to be involved in.”

All-rounder Ellyse Perry is expected to play despite experiencing “quad awareness” during Australia’s semi-final victory over the West Indies. Molineux confirmed, “She’s trained really well... We’ll assess tomorrow and see how she pulls up before we make any decisions.”