Heather Knight can be changed as captain of the England Girls’s cricket workforce after their dismal Ashes thrashing, the ECB has confirmed.
Knight has captained England Girls 199 instances since 2016 however will go away the position after a disappointing few months, the place they didn’t progress from the group stage on the T20 World Cup earlier than dropping all seven matches within the multi-format Ashes sequence.
The ECB confirmed final month it might have an “honest review” about England changing into the first aspect to be whitewashed 16-0 because the multi-format sequence was established in 2013, with Jon Lewis since axed as head coach.
A brand new captain may also be appointed “to lead the team into a new era”, a choice Sky Sports activities Information understands was not Knight’s, with a successor anticipated to be introduced quickly.
“Captaining my country for the last nine years has been the biggest honour of my life and I will look back on my tenure with an enormous sense of pride,” mentioned Knight, who will proceed to be obtainable for England choice.
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England cricketing greats previous and current share their experiences of respective glittering careers
“I have loved the challenge of leading the team, but all good things come to an end and it’s time for me to go back into the ranks and focus on being the best batter and team-mate that I can be for the team.”
Knight, 34, led England to a house World Cup victory in 2017 and to 2 different ICC match finals, overseeing 134 wins as skipper – second on the record of England Girls’s all-time most profitable captains.
She additionally led the workforce to a record-breaking run of eight consecutive ODI sequence wins, together with defeating Australia within the 2023 house Ashes, during which England additionally received the IT20 sequence to attract an exhilarating Girls’s Ashes.
“Winning the ICC Women’s World Cup on home turf at Lord’s in 2017 will always be a huge highlight, but being a part of the huge steps forward made in the women’s game off the pitch brings me just as much pride,” Knight added.
“I have loved being England captain, it’s been the most rewarding period of my career, but for now I’m excited to focus on my batting and supporting the team and the new captain in the best way I can.”
Knight made her England debut in 2010 and 10 years later grew to become the primary England males’s or ladies’s participant to attain a global century in all three codecs of the sport.
The 34-year-old will nonetheless proceed to be obtainable for England choice
Richard Gould, ECB chief government officer, mentioned: “I’m immensely thankful for everything Heather has given in her time as captain. The World Cup win and the thrilling 2023 Women’s Ashes will live long in the memory.
“Heather’s affect as captain has prolonged far past her impression on the pitch. By her management and dedication, she has impressed many ladies and women to get entangled within the sport, fuelling the transformation of ladies’s cricket we’ve got seen since 2016.
“As one of the world’s best batters, I look forward to watching Heather play on for England for many years to come.”
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Again in 2021, Knight hit a match-winning century towards New Zealand throughout their ODI sequence win
England misplaced all seven matches in Australia throughout January and February, with 3-0 sweeps within the one-day worldwide and T20 worldwide sequence adopted by an innings defeat within the sole Check.
They play West Indies and India in house white-ball fixtures this summer season earlier than travelling to India within the autumn for the 50-over World Cup.
Why we should always ‘have a good time’ Knight’s England legacy
Former England worldwide Lydia Greenway, talking to Sky Sports activities Information:
“I think it will be a really tough situation for her [Knight] to navigate, as it sounds as if it wasn’t her decision.
“Clearly, there would have been conversations together with her and Jonathan Finch [director, England Women’s cricket] and likewise Claire Connor [ECB Managing Director, England Women], and that will have taken a number of days.
Heather Knight will nonetheless be obtainable to play for England however will not be captain
“I think for Heather now it’s probably trying to get her head around that and thinking about what role she might play within this England side moving forward.
“What that appears like for Heather shifting forwards we do not but know, however I feel one factor we should always have a good time is what she’s accomplished for the sport and what she’s accomplished for this England workforce.
“We all know, in recent times, the team just haven’t been performing. When that happens, unfortunately, changes do have to be made.”
Watch each match this summer season stay on Sky Sports activities. The T20 sequence towards West Indies begins on Might 21. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
