Heather Knight, the former captain of the England women’s cricket team, has announced her retirement from international cricket. Her decision comes as she participates in her final match—a women’s Test against India at Lord’s—marking the end of an impressive 16-year career at the international level.
Since making her debut for England in 2010, Knight has become the most-capped player in the history of England’s women’s cricket, having competed in 320 matches. Under her leadership, the team experienced significant success, including a memorable victory in the 2017 Women’s World Cup held in England. Knight’s tenure as captain spanned from 2016 to 2025, during which she captained the side in 199 matches.
At 35, Knight has achieved several milestones, including becoming the first England player to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket, a feat she accomplished by scoring a T20I century in 2020. As she approached her final Test, her record stood at an impressive 7,988 runs on the international stage.
Reflecting on her career, Knight expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country, describing the team’s dressing room as a significant part of her life over the past 16 years. She noted that retiring during the historic women’s Test at Lord’s felt like the appropriate moment to conclude her international career.
Clare Connor, the managing director of England Women’s cricket, commended Knight for her outstanding contributions both as a player and a leader, emphasizing the transformative impact she has had on women’s cricket. Knight’s announcement follows closely on the heels of her teammate Tammy Beaumont, who also recently declared her intention to retire after the Lord’s Test.