The ECB have announced that Heather Knight will step down as England Women's captain after leading the side for almost nine years.
The news of Knight's departure from the role comes a day after announcement of Jon Lewis's departure from the head coach role. Both axings follow an ECB review after England's disastrous defeat in the Ashes earlier this year. No successors have yet been named for either role. Knight will still be available for selection for England as a player.
Knight said she would consider her position as captain following her side's defeat in Australia. She has captained England women 199 times since taking on the role in 2016, including leading them to victory at Lord's in the 2017 World Cup final. Her 134-victories in the role make her the second-most successful England Women's captain.
However, her departure comes after a string of disappointing results, including crashing out of the women's T20 World Cup, which preceded the Ashes defeat.
Knight: 'Captaining England has been the biggest honour of my life'
Knight said in an ECB press release: “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. 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 teammate that I can be for the team.
“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.
ECB will appoint a new captain for the England Women's team following the side's 16-0 Ashes defeat in Australia.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 22, 2025
Heather Knight captained the side for nine years across 199 games. She will continue to be available for selection as a player. pic.twitter.com/q8JSAopw2H
“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.”
ECB managing director of women's cricket and former England Women's captain Clare Connor said: “Heather has been an outstanding leader as England Women’s Captain. She has led the team by example as a role model off the pitch, and through the runs she has scored on it – often in the toughest conditions.
“Heather has enjoyed many highlights as England captain. I particularly remember the century she scored in the Ashes Test at Canberra in 2022 where her individual brilliance nearly helped the team pull off a famous win. It was an innings of great skill and great heart. “She led the team brilliantly to win a World Cup on home turf, creating memories we will never forget. That magical day at Lord’s acted as a catalyst for so much of the growth we have seen for women’s and girls’ cricket in the years since.
“Heather is passionate about inspiring young girls to play cricket and to playing her part in making our sport gender-balanced. She is a powerful role model to young professional female players and to recreational players alike. Having started her England career as an amateur, she has always understood the important connection between the England team and the grassroots game.”
Currently with no captain or head coach appointed, England's next series will begin against West Indies in May, in which they will play three T20Is and three ODIs.
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