Heather Knight, the former captain of England’s women’s cricket team, has announced her retirement from international cricket after the ongoing Test match against India at Lord’s. This decision marks the end of her illustrious 16-year career representing England on the international stage.
Knight, who first donned the England jersey in 2010, retires as the most-capped player in the country’s women’s cricket history, having made 320 appearances. Her leadership spanned 199 matches from 2016 to 2025, during which she notably led England to victory in the Women’s World Cup held on home soil in 2017. At 35, she leaves behind a legacy as the first England player to score centuries in all three international formats, achieving this milestone with a T20I century in 2020. Ahead of her final Test, she had amassed 7,988 international runs.
In reflecting on her career and decision to retire, Knight expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent England, highlighting the significance of the dressing room as a constant throughout her career. She remarked that retiring during the historic women’s Test at Lord’s felt like the perfect moment to step away from the international scene.
Clare Connor, the managing director of England Women’s cricket, lauded Knight’s exceptional contributions to the sport, recognizing her on-field performances and her leadership during a transformative era for women’s cricket.
Knight’s announcement follows closely on the heels of her teammate Tammy Beaumont, who also declared her intention to retire from international cricket after the Lord’s Test.