Heather Knight

One of the most promising players for England over the last 10 years, Knight has been the backbone of the England batting line-up. A right-handed middle-order batswoman, Knight was the highest run-scorer in back-to-back County seasons in 2008 and 2009, and soon made her international debut in 2010. 

She was called up in the England squad as a replacement for injured Sarah Taylor and played in the 5th ODI game of the series against India in 2010. She opened the batting and scored a terrific 49 on a sluggish wicket of Mumbai. 

A year later she made her Test match debut in the one-off Test against Australia. 

Her standout performance till date was in the 2013 Ashes series against Australia at Wormsley. Knight scored 157 and batted for almost seven-hours to help England secure a draw.

In 2014, she was appointed as the vice-captain of the national team, and two years later was promoted as the permanent skipper of the side. 

She led England in the 2017 Women’s World Cup tournament, and in the second group stage match against Pakistan, Knight, along with Natalie Sciver, went on to put a record 3rd-wicket partnership of 213 as England easily defeated Pakistan by 107 runs. 

England won the World Cup by beating India in the finals and Knight was awarded an OBE in the Queens 2018 New Year Honours List.

In the 2020 Women’s World T20, Knight scored her maiden T20I century playing against Thailand, and became the first women’s cricketer to score a century in all three formats of the game.

A legend of this beautiful game, Knight has achieved everything at the international level. She had big shoes to fill as a skipper when Charlotte Edwards retired from international cricket, but Knight has been a revolutionary captain for the English side and continues to perform well till date. 

(As of April 21)