FEATURED IMAGE: Mike Egerton/PA
England great Heather Knight will retire from international cricket at the tip of this week’s Test match against India at Lord’s.
Knight, who has made a record 320 appearances for England, has joined team-mate Tammy Beaumont in calling time on her profession at the tip of what’s the first women’s Test match at the house of cricket, and one during which England appear headed for defeat after a gruelling second day’s play on Saturday.
The 35-year-old made her England debut in 2010 and went on to captain the side on 199 occasions between 2016 and 2025, guiding the team to success on the ICC Women’s World Cup on home soil in 2017.
Nonetheless, Knight was sacked as captain in March last yr after a diabolical Ashes tour of Australia during which England were trounced 16-0.
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PICTURE: Bradley Collyer/PA
Grateful
“I’m extremely grateful and privileged to have gone on the journey that I actually have been on as an England cricketer,” Knight said.
“It’s hard to walk away since the dressing room and the people within the dressing room have been a continuing in my life for 16 years, and the memories and the experiences and the people have helped shape me grow to be who I’m today, but I’m really content with this decision and I’m really excited for what’s next.”
Knight, who became the primary English player to attain centuries in all three formats of the sport when she made her first T20 hundred in Canberra in 2020, began this week’s test on 7,988 international runs.
On Saturday she added only six to that tally before falling victim to Sayali Satghare as England were bowled out for 170, ending the day 269 runs behind an India side who will resume on 154 for one on Sunday.
PICTURE: John Walton/PA
Originals
Like Beaumont, who announced earlier this week the Test match could be her last international appearance, Knight is among the many last of the ‘originals’ who got the primary batch of skilled contracts in the ladies’s game.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones are the one others still lively in the sport.
“Growing up as somewhat girl from Devon and fiddling with the boys, I never thought I’d get to experience this,” Knight added.
“It feels right to depart the sport with this historic test at Lord’s. It’s been a tremendous 16 years and I feel so lucky.”
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