England’s bowlers are facing a change in their pre-game routines due to Rita Ora’s appearance ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup final against Australia at Lord’s on Sunday. The pop singer will headline the tournament’s closing ceremony from 2:30-3:00 pm, just 30 minutes before the match.
Teams are allowed on the main ground before and after the performance, but any warm-up drills in between must take place on the Nursery Ground, primarily used for net practice during training days. This could be a frustration for bowlers who prefer to mark their run-ups and go through their paces on the field where they will be playing.
England’s captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, acknowledged that there are “a few moving parts” with the pre-game routines. She hopes her team can proceed as usual despite these changes. In contrast, Australia’s captain, Sophie Molineux, was less concerned about the situation.
Ora has had a successful career in music and television since making her debut in 2014. Her second studio album, Phoenix (2018), produced hits like “Your Song,” “Anywhere,” and “Let You Love Me.” She also served as a judge on The X Factor UK, The Masked Singer UK, and The Voice UK, among other shows.
Her acting career began at age 13 with an appearance in the British drama series, The Brief. Ora later starred in the film Spivs (2004) and performed at open mic sessions around London and her father’s pub. In 2008, she auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One but withdrew from the competition after a few episodes due to not feeling ready and thinking it wasn’t right for her.