Former England captain Knight announces retirement
Former England captain Heather Knight has announced her retirement from international cricket.
Knight, 35, joins batter Tammy Beaumont in stepping down from England duty at the end of the ongoing Test match against India at Lord's.
The batter finishes with 320 international appearances, which is an England women's record, and led her country to a famous World Cup win at Lord's in 2017 having replaced the legendary Charlotte Edwards as captain in the previous year.
Having made her debut in 2010, Knight led England in 199 matches, a nine-year tenure which came to an end after the heavy Ashes defeat in 2025.
"I'm extremely grateful and privileged to have gone on the journey that I have been on as an England cricketer," said Knight.
"It's hard to walk away because the dressing room and the people in the dressing room have been a constant in my life for 16 years, and the memories and the experiences and the people have helped shape me become who I am today, but I'm really content with this decision and I'm really excited for what's next.
"Growing up as a little girl from Devon and playing with the boys, I never thought I'd get to experience this. It feels right to leave the game with this historic Test at Lord's. It's been an amazing 16 years, and I feel so lucky."
Knight leaves big shoes to fill as one of England's most reliable and experienced batters in the middle order, leaving the side in a period of transition alongside Beaumont's absence at the top.
She has played 15 Tests, 160 one-day internationals and 145 T20s, and led England to two further World Cup finals after the 2017 win - the T20 edition in 2018 and in the 50-over format in 2022, but lost both to Australia.
In 2020, she became the first England player, either in men's or women's cricket, to score an international century in all three formats.
"There couldn't be a more apt moment for Heather to announce her retirement from international cricket than during this most historic occasion at Lord's and where she led England to a remarkable home World Cup win nine years ago," said Clare Connor, managing director of England women.
"Heather's contribution to England women's cricket has been extraordinary. She has combined skill and determination as a player with exceptional leadership qualities, helping to shape this team and the game more broadly through one of the most significant periods in its history."
In December, it was announced that Knight would not be playing for her franchise London Spirit in The Hundred as she was appointed as general manager for their women's team.
More to follow.
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