New era begins as England confirm new captaincy appointment
England have named the successor to Heather Knight, who stepped down after a nine-year tenure as captain.
England’s star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt has been appointed captain of the national women’s team, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced in a media release on Tuesday, 29 April.
A mainstay in the side since her debut in 2013, Sciver-Brunt has been a vital member of the team with both bat and ball, with 259 appearances across formats over the past decade.
Sciver-Brunt was the leading candidate to take over the captaincy, having served as Knight's deputy and being one of England's most experienced cricketers across all formats. She has previously led the team in 11 T20I matches and an ODI, securing nine victories in those matches as skipper.
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All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt starred for England at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
The appointment of Sciver-Brunt marks the beginning of a new era for the England women’s cricket team, with changes in both leadership and coaching. Earlier this year, head coach Jon Lewis stepped down, and England legend Charlotte Edwards was appointed as his successor.
The new captain-coach duo will begin their journey with England’s home summer, featuring white-ball series against West Indies and India starting in May. Their first major assignment, however, will be the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, set to take place in India later this year.
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A deeper look at what sets star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt apart as a 100% Cricket Icon through the eyes of Mel Jones,
On being appointed the captain, Sciver-Brunt said: "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 [Edwards], someone I’ve always looked up to. Ever since I made my England debut back in 2013, all I have wanted to do is help the team in every way that I can. I will try my best to lead this team to success, whilst empowering them to be the best version of themselves.
"We have a really talented group, and we have a group that's united. It's a team I believe in and a team that can have a lot of success together. It's hugely exciting to be working with Charlotte having had the pleasure of working with her in the last three years at Mumbai Indians. Her love of cricket and passion for the England Women’s team is inspiring and I’m excited to see where this partnership leads us."