Heather Knight will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of this week's Test match against India at Lord's. The 35-year-old former England captain made her international debut in 2010 and has amassed a record 320 appearances for her country.
Career highlights and leadership
Knight captained England on 199 occasions between 2016 and 2025, leading the team to victory in the Women's World Cup on home soil in 2017. She was removed from the captaincy in March last year following a 16-0 Ashes defeat in Australia. Knight became the first English player to score centuries in all three formats when she made her T20 hundred in Canberra in 2020.
“I'm extremely grateful and privileged to have gone on the journey that I have been on as an England cricketer,” Knight said. “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.”
Final Test and current performance
Knight entered this week's Test with 7,988 international runs. On Saturday she added just six runs before being dismissed by Sayali Satghare as England were bowled out for 170. England ended the day 269 runs behind India, who will resume on 154 for one on Sunday. Knight joins teammate Tammy Beaumont, who earlier announced this Test would be her last international appearance, in retiring from the international game.
“Growing up as a little girl from Devon and playing with the boys, I never thought I'd get to experience this,” Knight added. “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.”
Legacy and impact
Knight and Beaumont are among the last of the group who received the first batch of professional contracts in women's cricket. Only Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Amy Jones remain active from that cohort. Clare Connor, managing director of England Women, said: “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.”
