Axing Heather Knight exposes England’s lack of succession planning

Heather Knight looks downcast after another defeat – Heather Knight has left her position as England captain after 199 games in all formats — Heather Knight has left her position as England captain after 199 games in all formats - Getty Images/Alex Davidson

Once England’s 16-0 whitewash in the Ashes was complete, it was inevitable change would follow.

A lengthy England and Wales Cricket Board review was mandated in the aftermath of the chastening defeat to Australia, and the decision made that Heather Knight would move on as captain, after taking charge of 199 matches in all formats and having won the 2017 Women’s World Cup. The decision comes after Jon Lewis’s sacking was confirmed on Friday.

Knight said: “Captaining my country for the last nine years has been the biggest honour of my life and I will look back on my tenure with an enormous sense of pride. I have loved the challenge of leading the team, but all good things come to an end and it’s time for me to go back into the ranks and focus on being the best batter and team-mate that I can be for the team.

“Winning the ICC Women’s World Cup on home turf at Lord’s in 2017 will always be a huge highlight, but being a part of the huge steps forward made in the women’s game off the pitch brings me just as much pride.

“I have loved being England captain, it’s been the most rewarding period of my career, but for now I’m excited to focus on my batting and supporting the team and the new captain in the best way I can.”

The England players look glum after they lost the Ashes Test in Melbourne last month — The England players after they lost the Ashes Test in Melbourne last month - Shutterstock/James Ross

Knight will continue in her role as batter, but the problem is who will lead the side. Since the turn of the century, there have only been three England Women’s captains, while the men’s Test team have had eight permanent captains in the same amount of time. The current problem is far from a new one.

Australia are constantly planning their line of succession, with captaincy in the Women’s Big Bash, internationals and a “leadership group” designed to give younger players experience to turn them into captains. England do not have that.

Tasked with facing a West Indies side for a place in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup in October without Knight, England faltered and looked lost. They are now facing the realities of a leadership void.

Knight did an exemplary job. It would not have been easy to take over from Charlotte Edwards but nine years later England are facing the same problem. The question is not about Knight’s abilities in the role, but rather why there has been so little planning for afterwards.

Here, Telegraph Sport takes a look at the contenders to take over the captaincy...

Nat Sciver-Brunt

The obvious choice in the line of succession, given Sciver-Brunt has already been the long-term England vice-captain. Although when she did take over following Knight’s injury at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, not only did it not go as planned but Sciver-Brunt took time out of the game afterwards to prioritise her mental health. Despite being named as Trent Rockets captain in all seasons of the Hundred, she has also shared duties with Elyse Villani. To ask someone to be an all-rounder and captain is a lot and it could be too much to ask of Sciver-Brunt who is also about to become a mother.

Charlie Dean

A slightly outside pick. Dean has captained seven times in the Women’s Hundred in the absence of Knight, although she only won 42.8 per cent of those matches. Dean is an experienced bowler who is also handy with the bat and has been a mainstay of the side in the last few years. If England choose to look beyond Sciver-Brunt, Dean is likely to be among the candidates when considering those of the generation who were not part of the original professional group.

Sophie Ecclestone

Arguably the best women’s spin bowler in the world, Ecclestone is guaranteed to play in every match across all formats. She has captained 12 times in the Hundred, although winning only 41.6 per cent of those matches, but stepped up to the role in the last two seasons. Ecclestone, however, is not a natural with the media and that is something she would have to learn quickly if she is tasked with making the step up. Her public snub of Alex Hartley and refusal to do an interview with her former England and Lancashire team-mate will not have gone unnoticed.

Amy Jones

Jones does not seem to want the captaincy, but it arguably should go to a senior player with international experience. The game has moved on too far to draft someone in who has limited caps. Jones has captained before, for Birmingham Phoenix in the first season of the Hundred, although she has spurned that opportunity in all of the following seasons. Whoever does take over will be looking to the player behind the stumps for guidance, so even if not as captain, Jones may find herself being asked to step up as a senior leader on the pitch.

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