England has appointed Nat Sciver Brunt as the new Women’s captain. She was a deputy to Heather Knight earlier. Heather lost the job after nine years in the aftermath of the disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia.
England Women lost the Ashes multi-format series by 16-0 earlier this year.
Nat Sciver Brunt is on maternity leave for now. She will assume the role of the captain ahead of the upcoming home series against West Indies and India.
After making her debut in 2013, she has played 259 times for her counter across formats. She averages 46.47 in Tests, 45.91 in ODIs, and 28.45 in T20Is. Apart from her batting exploits, she has also taken 181 wickets in her international career. She has previously captained the England team in the absence of Heather Knight.
The last time when Sciver Brunt captained England was at the T20 World Cup in October last year. Heather Knight had to leave the field after sustaining a calf injury while running between the wickets. She had to step in mid-match. It was a group stage match against West Indies and they lost it.
Sciver Brunt was also the second-highest run-scorer after Knight for England in the recently concluded Ashes.
She was also the highest run scorer in the recently concluded WPL with 523 runs for Mumbai Indians. Here is what she said about the England captain job.
“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,” Sciver-Brunt said. “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.
“We have a really talented group, and we have a group that’s united. It’s a team I believe in and a team that can have a lot of success together. It’s hugely exciting to be working with Charlotte having had the pleasure of working with her in the last three years at Mumbai Indians. Her love of cricket and passion for the England Women’s team is inspiring and I’m excited to see where this partnership leads us.”