Given the disastrous Ashes defeat earlier this year, it was clear that England would be heading into the summer of 2025 with a new coach and captain.
However, this marks uncharted territory.
Since 2000, England have had only three permanent women’s captains, and all three could still play significant roles in the next chapter of the team’s journey.
Clare Connor, the current managing director of women’s cricket, will oversee the process of selecting the next captain. Charlotte Edwards is a candidate for the coaching role, and Heather Knight, who led the team for the past nine years before being dismissed on Saturday, is likely to return to the batting lineup.
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Knight’s captaincy began under the intense pressure of following in the footsteps of a legend in Edwards. She delivered a World Cup win just a year into her tenure and played a pivotal role in transitioning the team from an amateur to a professional setup.
But her time at the helm ended painfully—marked by a 16-0 Ashes defeat at the hands of their biggest rivals. Knight had to hold back tears after each difficult interview, standing on the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground outfield as Australia celebrated their triumph while her team fell apart.
Though her tenure shouldn’t be defined solely by that crushing loss, it undeniably marked a turning point, with head coach Jon Lewis also departing on Friday.
Professional sport is unforgiving, and Ashes defeats, in particular, carry an extra weight.
Now, England’s slate is wiped clean, and Knight’s as well. She has expressed a desire to continue playing, and if she can rediscover the form that was overshadowed by Australia’s dominance, she will be a valuable asset to the next captain—perhaps following in Joe Root’s footsteps, who has thrived as a run-scorer since stepping down from the men’s Test leadership.
