England Cricket Icon Steps Down
Heather Knight Retires from International Cricket, Concluding Illustrious England Career at Lord's
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Key Points
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Knight was sacked as captain in March last year after England's 16-0 Ashes defeat in Australia.
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Knight described the decision as hard but said she is extremely grateful and privileged to have had the journey, noting the dressing room has been a constant in her life.
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Knight's retirement is the second high-profile retirement in the England women's programme this week, following Tammy Beaumont's earlier announcement.
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Under Knight's leadership, England won the 2017 Women's World Cup at Lord's and later reached two more World Cup finals (T20 in 2018 and the 50-over in 2022), both losses to Australia.
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Heading into the Lord's Test, Knight began the week on 7,988 international runs and added six on day two.
Heather Knight, England's most capped women's cricketer, announced her retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, with the Lord's Test against India serving as her final match. The 35-year-old finishes with a record 320 international appearances across all three formats, according to Perth Now.
Knight captained England in 199 matches between 2016 and 2025 — more than any other England women's player. Her retirement follows that of Tammy Beaumont, who stepped away earlier this week, marking a significant changing of the guard for the England women's programme, Newscord reported.
From 2010 Debut to a Record 320 Caps
Knight made her England debut in 2010 and spent 16 years at the top of the women's game. She became the first English player to score centuries in all three formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. A landmark T20 century in Canberra in 2020 completed that historic set. Heading into the Lord's Test, she had accumulated 7,988 international runs, adding six more on day two, according to India's News.
Knight said the decision was hard but that she is "extremely grateful and privileged" to have had the journey. She added that the dressing room has been "a constant" in her life and that she is excited for what comes next, Perth Now reported.
2017 World Cup Glory and Three Finals Overall
Knight's greatest moment as captain came at Lord's in 2017, when she led England to Women's World Cup glory on home soil. The venue for her final Test is the same ground where she lifted that trophy. Under her leadership, England reached two more World Cup finals — the T20 in 2018 and the 50-over final in 2022 — losing both to Australia, Newscord reported.
Those three finals in eight years marked England as a consistent force in global women's cricket. The ECB confirmed her retirement and highlighted her 320 appearances and leadership during what it called a highly successful era for English women's cricket, according to India's News.
Ashes Humiliation Preceded the End of Her Captaincy
Knight's time as captain ended on a painful note. England suffered a historic 16-0 Ashes defeat in Australia in early 2025. The ECB sacked her as captain in March of that year following the series loss. It was the worst result in the history of the women's Ashes, Perth Now reported.
Despite losing the captaincy, Knight continued playing for England. She was selected for the Lord's Test against India, giving her one final chance to perform at the ground most closely linked to her greatest triumph. That match now serves as her send-off from the international game.
Beaumont Exit Signals Generational Shift for England Women
Knight's retirement is the second major departure from the England women's team in days. Tammy Beaumont announced her own retirement earlier this week. The two players were central figures in England women's cricket for over a decade, Macleay Argus noted.
Together, the exits of Knight and Beaumont open the door for a new generation to step up. England now face a rebuild in all three formats, losing both their record appearance-holder and one of their most reliable top-order bats in the same week, according to Canberra Times.
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