Heather Knight left her role as captain of England after nine years as captain as the fallout of a disastrous women’s tour for women.
Head coach Jon Lewis left earlier this week and paid the price for a 16-0 whitewash, and Knight also waived her duties from a total leadership.
The batter will be available for selection that the team led 199 times since her appointment in 2016. The 34-year-old led England to the World Cup victory on home land in 2017, but has since failed to win another major tournament or win back the ashes of a dominant Australia.
The Knight’s leadership investigated further this winter with the fitness and preparation of England, which was both questioned during the defeat of 16-0 and the Women’s T20 World Championships.
And the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will now seek a new captain and coach to lead a rebuilt team.
“For the past nine years, my country has been the greatest honor of my life and I will look back on my tenure with a tremendous sense of pride,” Knight said. ‘I loved the challenge of leading the team, but all good things come to an end and it’s time for me to go back into the ranks and focus on being the best batter and teammate I can be for the team.
‘Winning the ICC Women’s World Cup on Home Turf at Lord’s in 2017 will always be a big highlight, but being part of the big steps made in the women’s game off the field brings me just as much proud.
“I loved being English captain, it was the most rewarding period of my career, but I am now excited to focus on my bat and the team and the new captain in the best way I can.”
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, among the leading contenders appointed as head coach after the departure of Lewis in 2016 and achieved more than 7,000 international runs. She was the first English batter to achieve a hundred in the test, Odis and T20i cricket.
Options to replace her include the Allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, which suggested at the end of the AS that she would be prepared to act from her vice captainhood role if needed.
Wicketkeeper Amy Jones also led England in Knight’s place, while Charlie Dean, outside the spinner, leadership experience has in domestic cricket and the hundred.
England start their international summer against the West Indies in Canterbury on May 21.
