Heather Knight, the former captain of England’s women’s cricket team, has announced her retirement from international cricket. Her decision will take effect after the conclusion of the ongoing women’s Test match against India at Lord’s, marking the end of a remarkable 16-year career on the international stage.
Since her debut in 2010, Knight has become the most-capped player in England women’s cricket history, with 320 international appearances. Her leadership skills were evident as she captained the team in 199 matches from 2016 to 2025, steering them to victory in the 2017 Women’s World Cup held in England.
The 35-year-old cricketer achieved the milestone of being the first England player to score centuries across all three international formats, having secured a T20I century in 2020. Ahead of her final Test match, she has accumulated an impressive total of 7,988 international runs. Knight expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country, noting the dressing room’s significant role in her life over the past 16 years and deeming the historic Lord’s Test an appropriate time to retire from international play.
Clare Connor, managing director of England Women’s cricket, lauded Knight’s outstanding contributions to the sport. Connor emphasized her exceptional on-field performances and her leadership during a transformative era for women’s cricket.
Knight’s retirement announcement comes shortly after her teammate Tammy Beaumont also revealed her decision to conclude her international career following the Test at Lord’s.