After nearly a decade leading from the front, Heather Knight is stepping into unfamiliar yet oddly comforting territory – no longer as captain, but as a player among peers. The iconic England cricketer, who shepherded the national side through its golden moments and testing transitions, is embracing the shift with optimism, even as the weight of relinquished leadership lingers in the background.
Knight’s nine-year reign came to a close in the aftermath of a devastating 16-0 Ashes whitewash, prompting a comprehensive review by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The result? A significant shake-up saw both Knight and head coach Jon Lewis removed from their posts. Still, Knight carries no bitterness, only gratitude and anticipation for the path ahead.
Reflecting on her new reality, Knight shared her emotions and the subtle changes in team dynamics since stepping down, “Lots has changed,” Knight said. “I’ve just been reflecting on a really enjoyable nine years as captain. I really loved it and I’m really excited for the next chapter as well.
“I’ve had a bit of time to let the news digest and move forward and am quite excited for what’s to come. I’m looking forward to having a little bit more time on my hands being one of the girls again. I’m feeling pretty positive and obviously looking forward to moving on.”
One of the invisible burdens of captaincy is the inevitable distance it creates between the leader and the rest of the squad. Knight opened up about this separation, and the freedom she now feels, “As captain, naturally there’s a little bit of water between you and the sides because you’re involved in decision making and things like that. I have a little bit more time on my hands to hang out with people and things like that, so that’s quite exciting.”
While there’s a sense of loss, there’s also a newfound lightness. Knight acknowledged the duality of letting go of a role that once defined her, “There’s certainly bits of the captaincy that I’ll miss, but there’s certainly things I won’t miss as well. I love captaining and I think it brought the best out of me as a person and as a player. So, I guess now the new challenge for me is how I get my best out of myself when I’m not captain and when I’m playing.”
Stepping into the captain’s shoes now is Nat Sciver-Brunt—Knight’s long-time vice-captain and a natural choice given her leadership record, including nine wins in twelve matches as stand-in skipper. Sciver-Brunt, returning from maternity leave, is set to usher in a new chapter for England Women with support and wisdom from her predecessor.
Knight herself remains humble but ready to assist in whatever capacity is needed. Her message to Sciver-Brunt was simple and empowering, “I wish her the best of luck. I said, ‘do it in your way.’ I’m really pleased for her that she’s got this opportunity. I’m there if she needs me. I’m always there as a voice. I’m very much going to get in the background and be there if needed to be called on by whoever and just look forward to focusing on the batting and supporting Nat and the team in any way that I can.”
Knight hasn’t shied away from competitive cricket since her demotion. She played under Phoebe Litchfield at Sydney Thunder in the WBBL and featured prominently for Somerset in the One Day Cup, where she batted at the top of the order. Her performances were strong 244 runs at an average of 40.66 and a strike rate of 90.37, proving that her personal form remains undiminished.
But her recent revival includes more than just batting. Knight, once semi-retired as a bowler, has been coaxed back into the attack by new England Women’s head coach Charlotte Edwards. The timing is crucial, with several frontline bowlers sidelined due to injuries—Sophie Ecclestone (knee), Freya Kemp (back), and Lauren Bell (knee)—while Nat Sciver-Brunt herself will play as a batter only as she recovers from an Achilles issue.
Returning to bowling has stirred a different kind of fire within Knight. “When I played the first game for Somerset, it was the first time I’d bowled in a match in a year,” Knight said. “I’d sort of semi-retired, I guess. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s another thing to get stuck in the field.”
Her approach to bowling, Knight revealed, is markedly different from her batting demeanor. “I’m probably a bit more competitive when I bowl than when I bat. I like to be quite calm when I bat, but when I bowl, I probably try and get in a little bit of a battle and a little bit of a fight because that gets the best out of me. I’ll always see myself as a part-timer, I think, and try to do a role when I can. But I do enjoy it and I’ve been asked to bowl a little bit more. If I can provide an option and bowl a few overs down, I’ll be completely happy.”
Though her captaincy chapter has closed, Knight’s presence remains vital. Her legacy—marked by a historic 2017 World Cup triumph, multiple ICC finals, and 199 matches as skipper—cements her as one of the game’s most influential leaders. And now, she looks forward to writing a new chapter—not as England’s captain, but as one of its most seasoned and reliable players, ready to serve and soar once more.
