Replacing a long-serving leader like Heather Knight won’t be easy for England, but they have a strong group of players who could step up. With just a couple of months to make their decision before hosting the West Indies in May—and with a 50-over World Cup in India looming later this year—England will need to pick wisely.
Knight’s captaincy has been a defining era for England cricket. She led the team to victory at the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and guided them to the final again in 2022. Under her leadership, England consistently reached the knockout stages of major tournaments, except for last year’s early T20 World Cup exit.
With her stepping down, the big question is: who’s next? Here are five possible successors.
1. Nat Sciver-Brunt
The obvious frontrunner. As Knight’s long-time vice-captain, Sciver-Brunt has leadership experience, both with England and in domestic competitions like The Hundred. At 32, she’s still one of the world’s best all-rounders, ranking in the top five for both batting and all-rounder stats in ODIs.
She has already expressed interest in taking on the role permanently, and given her experience, she could step in seamlessly. However, the all-rounder already carries a heavy workload, and her leadership at the 2022 Commonwealth Games—when Knight was injured—was less than convincing.
2. Charlie Dean
If England wants to look to the future, Charlie Dean could be their pick. She’s been seen as a captaincy candidate for a while and even stepped in for Knight to lead London Spirit in The Hundred.
At 23, she represents the next generation, and with Knight expected to continue playing as a batter, there could be a transition period where Dean gradually takes on more responsibility.
3. Danni Wyatt-Hodge
A wildcard option, but an interesting one. Wyatt-Hodge is a senior player who is popular in the squad and handles media duties well.
She was England’s leading run-scorer at last year’s T20 World Cup and remains their highest-ranked T20I batter, currently sitting in 11th place. At 33, she still has plenty left to give at the international level, though her lack of prior captaincy experience could be a concern.
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4. Sophie Ecclestone
This could be the most logical long-term choice. Ecclestone is the world’s top-ranked white-ball bowler, is respected by teammates, and has already captained Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
At 24, she’s at the right age to bridge the gap between England’s experienced players and the next generation. If England want a leader who can take them forward for years to come, Ecclestone could be the answer.
5. Tammy Beaumont
A short-term option, but a solid one. Beaumont has plenty of leadership experience, having captained England’s academy teams and Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Despite not being a guaranteed starter in all formats, the 34-year-old has consistently responded to setbacks by scoring big runs. She was left out of England’s squads for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and last year’s T20 World Cup, but her experience could make her a steadying presence if England want a transition captain before handing the role to a younger player.
