In a significant turning point for English women’s cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the appointment of Nat Sciver-Brunt as the new captain of the national women’s team.
Taking the reins from Heather Knight, who stepped down following the conclusion of the 2025 Women’s Ashes after nearly a decade at the helm, Sciver-Brunt will lead England across all three formats in partnership with recently appointed head coach Charlotte Edwards.
Sciver-Brunt’s promotion marks the culmination of a remarkable journey that began with her England debut in 2013. A veteran of 259 international matches, she has been a core member of the squad for over a decade, featuring in 12 Tests, 115 ODIs, and 132 T20Is.
In Tests, she has scored 881 runs at an impressive average of 46.47. In ODIs, she has amassed 3,811 runs at 45.91, and in T20Is, she has notched up 2,789 runs at 28.45. Her impact is equally significant with the ball, having taken 181 international wickets—79 in ODIs and 90 in T20Is—making her one of the most accomplished all-rounders in world cricket.
The 32-year-old has been recognised globally for her brilliance. She was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023 and has twice won the PCA Women’s Player of the Year award, in 2017 and again in 2022. She also earned spots in both the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Teams of the Year in 2023 and currently ranks third in the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings.
Her reputation as a powerhouse in white-ball cricket was further solidified by her trailblazing performance in the 2025 Women’s Premier League, where she became the first player to score more than 500 runs in a single season, finishing with 523. In doing so, she also became the first player to reach 1,000 total runs in WPL history.
Having served as England’s vice-captain for the past three years, Sciver-Brunt brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role. She previously captained the national team during the third T20I against New Zealand in 2021 and again at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Her appointment comes at a time when England are poised to refresh and redefine their approach under new leadership.
Reacting to her appointment, Nat Sciver-Brunt expressed a deep sense of pride and honour. She 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, someone I’ve always looked up to.”
Reflecting on her journey so far, she added, “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.”
Sharing her vision for the future, she said, “I will try my best to lead this team to success, whilst empowering them to be the best version of themselves.” She continued, “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.”
Sciver-Brunt also expressed her excitement about working alongside Charlotte Edwards at the helm. “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,” she said. “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.”
Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women’s Cricket, lauded the decision and praised Sciver-Brunt’s leadership qualities. “We are delighted to have appointed Nat as England Women’s captain and I know she’s excited about the honour of leading the team during an unprecedented chapter in international women’s cricket,” said Connor.
“Everyone knows what a fantastic cricketer Nat is, but her qualities extend far beyond her skills on the pitch. She’s thoughtful, resilient and driven by getting the best out of herself and everyone around her. Nat is immensely well-respected in the group, and I know she will form an exciting and fruitful partnership with Charlotte.”
England Women’s next challenge under Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy begins on 21 May with a home series against the West Indies, featuring three ODIs and as many T20Is. Following that, India will tour England for five T20Is and three ODIs, offering Sciver-Brunt her first full home campaign as leader and an early opportunity to define this new era of English women’s cricket.
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