England prepare to play Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday, but the England squad says a scheduled Rita Ora performance is affecting their pre-match routine. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt says the team’s bowlers are frustrated that their usual warm-up activities may be indirectly impeded by the singer’s stint as the event runs on the Lord’s outfield.
The closing ceremony features Rita Ora on the Lord’s outfield from 2:30pm to 3:00pm, finishing about 30 minutes before the start of the final. While both teams are allowed access to the main ground ahead of the ceremony and after it ends, any warm-up activities during the performance window must be carried out at the Nursery Ground. The Nursery Ground is described as being largely used for net practice on training days, meaning England may need to adjust their preparations during that period.
Multiple outlets report the same timing and venue constraints, with the concern focused specifically on how the ceremony window could interfere with bowlers’ warm-up plans before kickoff.
