Heather Knight has stepped down as the captain of the England women’s cricket team on March 22 after leading for nine years. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made this decision due to the team’s disappointing performances in recent tournaments, including the Women’s T20 World Cup and the Ashes series in Australia, where they did not win any matches.
The ECB stated, “Because of these poor results, we believe it’s time to appoint a new captain for a fresh start.” They will announce who will take over soon. However, Knight will still be available to play in all formats of cricket. This change comes just after the ECB also let go of the women’s team head coach, Jon Lewis.
Knight, a skilled batter, has been the captain for 199 matches since 2016. Under her leadership, the team won the Women’s World Cup at Lord’s in 2017 and reached the finals in two other major tournaments. She led the team to 134 wins, making her the second most successful captain in the history of England Women’s cricket. Knight also guided the team to a record eight consecutive ODI series wins and drew a thrilling Women’s Ashes match against Australia in 2023.
In her comments, Knight said, “Leading England has been the greatest honor of my life. I feel proud of what we achieved, but now it’s time for me to focus on playing my best as a batter.” She highlighted winning the World Cup at home as a standout moment and thanked everyone who contributed to the team’s journey, including her coaches and the fans.
Knight made her England debut in 2010 and became the first player, male or female, to score a century in all three formats of the game. Clare Connor, ECB’s Managing Director, praised Knight by saying, “She has been an amazing leader and role model.”
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