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Tash Farrant hailed Heather Knight as “one of the greats” after the former England captain announced her retirement from international cricket.
Knight, 35, will leave England alongside Tammy Beaumont at the conclusion of the first women’s Test against India at Lord’s this week.
Making her debut in 2010, Knight won 320 caps for England, while she captained the team from 2016 to 2025, most notably leading the team to a memorable win at the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup on home soil.
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Heather Knight explained her decision to retire from international cricket, felt the timing was right and shared a special moment when announcing the news in the dressing room yesterday.
“It’s a massive moment, isn’t it? He’s one of the best to ever play for England,” said former team-mate Farrant Sky Sports Cricket.
“Over the past 16 years she has become so integral to England cricket and women’s cricket in general that her career spans.
“He wanted to go out on his own terms. Not many people are able to do that, and he also loves Test match cricket, so to be able to play a Test match at Lord’s – the first – I’m not surprised by the decision.
“England is really going to miss him.”
The ‘gritty’, ‘hardy’ knight loved a hard time
Farrant added: “I think the 2017 World Cup title here (at Lord’s) will be remembered forever.
“And indeed, she came in at a difficult time, it’s not an easy task to follow Charlotte Edwards as England captain. For her to be able to strengthen that team quickly and win the World Cup.
Heather Knight led England to victory in the 2017 50-over World Cup
“Something I always admired about him was that he was so gritty on the pitch, such a tough cricketer.
“He loved those tough times, and felt that’s what made him a better cricketer.”
Knight currently ranks third among England’s all-time leading run scorers in T20I and ODI cricket, while he was the first English player to score a century in all three formats.
But Farrant also insisted that it was Knight’s often ‘overlooked’ work off the field for which he will be remembered most.
“Playing under him, he was such a good leader – more so than what he did off the field,” Farrant added.
“He was one of, if not the hardest worker in training with his fitness.
“As a young player you can jump into international cricket, right? And you can lose bits of your life – your friends, your family – because you’re immersed in it.
“I’ve always admired Heather because she’s always had such a beautiful balance between hard work – making sure you do everything, so you’re ready to be on that pitch – but also other things when we go on tour, as captains we have to go and immerse ourselves in the culture of this new country.
“Those are the memories I’ll have of him. Not just on the pitch, but the things he did off the pitch. Sometimes that’s a bit overlooked.”
Heather Knight became the first English player to score a century in all three formats
‘Good time for a night out’
Fellow former England international, Ebony Rainford-Brent, has labeled Knight as “great” but believes the time is right for him to retire.
“My first thought was to have a good time, to be honest,” Rainford-Brent said. “I think getting out on a high is really important.
“He has done a lot for the game. He captained here in the World Cup final at Lord’s.
“He would have hoped that they could have won again at home (in the T20 World Cup), but he’s in the final, and I think he’s just waiting, thinking, ‘I’ve got a lot to give and I’ve given everything’.
“Go out while your name is still at the top. There’s nothing worse than players dragging it out.”
