England cricket faces a significant setback as Heather Knight, one of the most influential figures in women’s cricket over the past decade, will miss the remainder of the 2025 international summer and The Hundred Women’s tournament. The decision comes after a challenging period marked by injury and leadership changes, leaving fans and teammates reflecting on her immense contributions and the circumstances behind her absence.

Reason why Heather Knight will not play international cricket and The Hundred in the English summer

Heather Knight’s 2025 began under a cloud of uncertainty. Having captained England for nearly nine years, her tenure ended abruptly following a crushing 16-0 Ashes defeat to Australia earlier in the year. The loss not only led to her removal as captain but also prompted a wider shake-up within the England setup, including the departure of head coach Jon Lewis. Despite stepping down, Knight expressed her desire to continue playing and contribute as a senior player, offering her experience to the new leadership.

Knight’s hopes for a smooth transition back into the team as a specialist batter were dashed by a persistent calf injury. The issue first surfaced during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where she was forced to retire hurt in a must-win group stage match against West Indies. Her absence in the field was keenly felt as England lost momentum and ultimately exited the tournament early.

In the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies, Knight sustained a hamstring problem during her half-century at Chelmsford and this injury has ruled her out of the entire international summer. Her absence will also be felt in The Hundred, where she was expected to be a marquee player and captain for her franchise London Spirit. Although her team had left a slot open for her in the draft, hoping for her return, the latest medical assessments have confirmed she will not be fit in time for the competition, which runs from August 5 to 31.

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Alice Capsey set to replace Heather Knight in West Indies ODIs

All-rounder Alice Capsey has been called up to the ODI squad as a replacement for Knight. Although she played in all three T20I matches, the 20-year-old had limited involvement, scoring just four runs and not bowling.

Fast bowler Lauren Filer has also joined the ODI squad to face the West Indies after recovering from a knee injury.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.