Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named England cricket’s new captain, replacing Heather Knight. Knight had held the post for nine years, but was deposed in March as England were comprehensively beaten in the Ashes, 16-0. She departed alongside head coach Jon Lewis, who was replaced by former England captain Charlotte Edwards. Sciver-Brunt, who is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her first child with former England team-mate Katherine, 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. "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." Sciver-Brunt was the instant favourite to pick up the baton from long-serving skipper Heather Knight, having served as the latter's vice-captain, and her appointment marks the first major decision of Edwards' reign. The all-rounder was a key player throughout Knight’s time as captain, but will now be tasked with lifting morale and reversing fortunes after such a bruising Ashes campaign. She had already worn the captain’s armband on a few occasions, most notably for a disappointing exit in the bronze-medal match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, after which she took a mental-health break from the game. She made her debut as England captain in 2021, facing New Zealand. Although not widely considered a natural on-field leader, she has the experience, know-how and international pedigree to make her Edwards' first choice. The 32-year-old has been an integral part of England's set-up since making her debut in 2013 and is regarded as one of the world's most gifted cricketers. She averages 46.47 in Tests, 45.91 in ODIs and 28.45 in IT20s, whilst also taking 181 international wickets. Most recently, Sciver-Brunt ended the 2025 Women's Premier League in India with 523 runs, becoming the first player to accumulate more than 500 runs in a single season. She also became the first to score 1,000 runs in the WPL. Additional reporting: PA