Heather Knight to retire from international cricket after Test match

By Brian Otieno — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Heather Knight is set to conclude her international cricket career following the ongoing Test match against India at Lord’s. Knight’s retirement marks the end of a career that includes a record 320 appearances for England, alongside Tammy Beaumont, who is also retiring. The current Test match is notable as the first women’s Test at Lord’s, and England faced a challenging second day’s play on Saturday.

Knight’s career spanned 199 matches as captain for England between 2016 and 2025. During her captaincy, she led the side to victory in the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which was held on home soil. In 2020, she achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first England player, male or female, to score a century in all three international formats of the game.

Notable career performances

Throughout her career, Knight delivered several standout performances across different formats. In Tests, she played a crucial innings of 157 against Australia in Wormsley in 2013. This performance, in only her third Test, involved a nearly seven-hour vigil that helped England secure a draw, contributing to their eventual Ashes triumph that winter. Her patience during this match showcased a defining aspect of her longest-format game.

Another significant Test innings was her career-best 168* against Australia in Canberra in 2022. Entering the crease with England in a difficult position at 337/9, Knight anchored a 100-run ninth-wicket stand with Sophie Ecclestone. This effort helped England achieve a draw and was recorded as the second-highest score by a captain in the history of women’s Tests, as well as the highest Test score by an English woman against Australia in Australia.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Knight scored her maiden century with 106 against Pakistan at Grace Road, Leicester, during the 2017 World Cup. This innings, alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, formed a 213-run third-wicket partnership, which was a record at the time for a Women’s World Cup. England posted their second-highest World Cup total and secured a 107-run victory, setting the stage for their title win at Lord’s a month later.

Another notable ODI performance was 109 against India at Holkar Stadium, Indore, during the 2025 World Cup. Returning from a hamstring injury, Knight scored 109 off 91 balls, leading England to a narrow four-run win and earning the Player of the Match award. This innings highlighted her skill in timing and placement.

T20 International contributions

In T20 Internationals (T20Is), Knight’s 108* against Thailand at Manuka Oval, Canberra, during the 2020 T20 World Cup stands out. After England lost early wickets, Knight rebuilt the innings, forming an unbroken 169-run third-wicket partnership with Sciver-Brunt. She finished unbeaten on 108 off 66 balls, reaching three figures off 63 deliveries and becoming the first woman in the sport’s history to score international centuries in all three formats.

More recently, in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa at The Oval, Knight scored 58. With England at 23/3, she and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt formed a 133-run fourth-wicket stand, the highest for that wicket at a T20 World Cup for England. This helped the hosts reach 169 for 5 and secure a 40-run victory, setting up a home final against Australia at Lord’s.

Knight expressed gratitude for her journey as an England cricketer, acknowledging the constant presence of the dressing room and its people in her life. Her international career will conclude at the end of this week’s Test match.

Source: magzter.com