Heather Knight, former England captain, faces an uphill battle to recover in time for the Women’s World Cup in India this September after suffering a significant tendon injury in her right hamstring. The injury occurred during her match-winning innings against West Indies last week, where she scored 66 not out from 47 balls in the third T20I at Chelmsford. Despite her stellar knock, Knight was visibly struggling with the injury towards the end of her innings and did not field in the second half of the match.
A subsequent MRI scan has confirmed the extent of the damage, leading to her being ruled out of the rest of the international summer. This includes the ongoing ODI series against West Indies, the India series in June-July, and the Women’s Hundred in August.
Rehabilitation and World Cup Hopes
Knight will now undergo further assessments with the England Women’s medical team to chart a path for her recovery. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has stated, “Although no return date can be set at this stage, it is hoped Heather will be available for selection for the ICC Women’s World Cup in September 2025.”
Responding to the news, Knight shared on Instagram, “It was fun whilst it lasted… Unfortunately, I’ve damaged my right hamstring tendon pretty badly. I’ll miss the rest of the international summer and the Hundred, but the World Cup is still in my sights. Gutted about the timing, but I’ll face this head-on like I have with challenges in my career before.”
A Significant Loss for England
Knight’s absence from the England squad has already been filled by Alice Capsey, who played a brief stint in the T20I series against West Indies. However, Knight’s vast experience and leadership will be hard to replace, especially as England continues to rebuild under Nat Sciver-Brunt, who replaced Knight as captain in April after her nine-year tenure came to an end.
Despite her injury, Knight was the standout performer in the third T20I at Chelmsford, guiding England to a competitive 144 for 5. Sciver-Brunt praised Knight’s contribution, saying, “Her innings was pretty special… that shows her class and experience.” Knight’s calm presence on the field was also missed, with England dropping several crucial catches during West Indies’ run-chase, echoing past mistakes from the T20 World Cup.
A Rebuilding Phase for England
This setback follows a history of injury issues for Knight, including a hip surgery in 2022 that caused her to miss England’s Commonwealth Games campaign. The World Cup in India marks a key stage for England‘s rebuild under Charlotte Edwards, who took over as head coach. With the World Cup starting on September 29 and the final scheduled for October 26 in Mullanpur, Knight’s recovery will be crucial for her involvement.
