Nat Sciver-Brunt Appointed England Women’s Cricket Captain, Replacing Heather Knight

Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named the new captain of the England Women’s cricket team, succeeding Heather Knight, who steps down after a nine-year tenure following England’s 16-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia earlier this year.

Currently on maternity leave, Sciver-Brunt will officially assume captaincy duties ahead of England's upcoming home series against West Indies and India. The 32-year-old all-rounder, whose wife and former England pacer Katherine Sciver-Brunt gave birth to their son Theodore in March, will return to lead a side in transition.

Sciver-Brunt is one of England’s most decorated cricketers, having made 259 international appearances across formats since her debut in 2013. She boasts a stellar batting average of 46.47 in Tests, 45.91 in ODIs, and 28.45 in T20Is, along with 181 international wickets. She has captained England on 12 previous occasions, including at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and most recently at the 2024 T20 World Cup when she stepped in mid-match after Knight suffered a calf injury.

Despite that tournament ending in disappointment—with England crashing out in the group stage—Sciver-Brunt has an impressive 9-2 win-loss record as captain.

Her appointment comes alongside another major change in England Women’s cricket setup, with Charlotte Edwards, former England captain and coach of Mumbai Indians in the WPL, taking over as head coach earlier this month. Edwards replaces Jon Lewis, who was dismissed following the Ashes whitewash.

Sciver-Brunt and Edwards have previously enjoyed success together at Mumbai Indians, where Sciver-Brunt was instrumental in winning two WPL titles in three seasons. She was also the leading run-scorer in the latest WPL edition, amassing 523 runs and outperforming the likes of Australia’s Ellyse Perry.

“I’m really proud to take on the role of captain of the England Women’s team and it’s an honour to have been asked by Charlotte, someone I’ve always looked up to,” Sciver-Brunt said. “All I have wanted to do since making my debut is help the team in any way I can. I will try my best to lead this team to success, whilst empowering them to be the best version of themselves.”

She added: “We have a really talented and united group. It’s a team I believe in, and one that can achieve great things. Working again with Charlotte is hugely exciting—her passion and belief in the team is inspiring.”

Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women’s Cricket, praised the appointment: “We are delighted to have appointed Nat as captain. She’s not only a fantastic cricketer but also thoughtful, resilient, and driven by getting the best out of herself and those around her. She’s immensely well-respected, and we believe she and Charlotte will form a formidable partnership.”

Sciver-Brunt, a two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2022, 2023), has also been named PCA Women’s Player of the Year in 2017 and 2022. She was included in both ICC ODI and T20 Teams of the Year in 2023.

Her leadership marks the beginning of a new era for England Women’s cricket as they seek to rebound from a difficult Ashes campaign and build momentum heading into a busy international calendar.

Nat Sciver-Brunt Appointed England Women’s Cricket Captain, Replacing Heather Knight

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