In significant news for English women’s cricket, Nat Sciver Brunt has been appointed captain of the England Women’s team after Heather Knight, following England’s Ashes whitewash against Australia. Sciver-Brunt will become the new skipper after she returns from maternity leave for the next home series against West Indies and India.
Nat Sciver Brunt: Leadership Transition After Ashes Defeat
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Heather Knight’s nine-year reign came to an end after England was humiliated by a record 16-0 defeat in the 2024-25 multi-format Ashes series. The change in leadership signals the start of a new age, as Sciver-Brunt will infuse new energy and dynamism into the team.
A Proven Leader and World-Class Allrounder
Nat Sciver Brunt, possibly the most reliable performer in women’s cricket globally, is an experienced campaigner. Since her first game for England in 2013, she has played for England 259 times, with career averages that read:
Tests: 46.47
ODIs: 45.91
T20Is: 28.45
Sciver Brunt has also taken 181 wickets internationally, which only reinforces her status as a real all-rounder.
Captaincy Experience and Performance Track Record
While she becomes a full-time captain for the first time, Sciver-Brunt has also captained before in Knight’s absence. Her record stands at 9-2 as captain in 12 games, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite the former’s group-stage exit, her leadership promise still showed through.
She was England’s second-leading scorer in the 2024-25 Ashes, behind Knight only, and third in all-time scorers behind Australia’s Beth Mooney.
WPL Dominance and Return to the Familiar Partnership
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Sciver-Brunt’s impressive form carried over to the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where she was the leading run-scorer with 523 runs for Mumbai Indians, who won the title. Her on-field partnership with coach Charlotte Edwards, a former captain of England herself, will now carry forward on the global stage. Edwards was recently recruited as England Women’s head coach to take charge from Jon Lewis.
Personal Milestone and Maternity Comeback
Now on maternity leave, Sciver-Brunt and her wife, ex-England seamer Katherine Sciver-Brunt, had their son Theodore in March. Her return to international cricket will be another inspiring milestone as she navigates motherhood and high-performance sport.
Quotes from Sciver-Brunt and ECB Leadership
“I’m really proud to take on the role of captain of the England Women’s team, and it’s an honour to be asked by Charlotte, someone I’ve always looked up to,” said Sciver-Brunt.
“We have a talented and united group, and I’m excited to lead them while working with Charlotte again.”
Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women, praised the appointment:
“Nat is a brilliant cricketer and an outstanding leader. She’s intelligent, tough, and admired by her teammates. We think that her combination with Charlotte will take this team into a thrilling future.”
Awards and Achievements
Awards and achievements of Sciver-Brunt’s illustrious career are:
ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2022 & 2023)
PCA Women’s Player of the Year (2017 & 2022)
Member of the ICC Women’s ODI & T20 Teams of the Year (2023)
With Nat Sciver Brunt as captain, England Women’s cricket sets off on a new, ambitious era. Supported by top-class performance, tested leadership, and an innovative coaching alliance, Sciver-Brunt’s reign promises a new age of ambition and triumph.
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