England have appointed all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt as their new captain.
Sciver-Brunt, 32, replaces Heather Knight after nine years in the role and is just the fourth permanent women’s captain since 2000.
Knight was sacked in March as a result of a review into the humiliating 16-0 Ashes defeat earlier in the year.
Head coach Jon Lewis was also removed from his position and has been replaced by legendary former captain Charlotte Edwards.
“I’m really proud to take on the role of captain and it’s an honour to have been asked by Charlotte, someone I’ve always looked up to,” said Sciver-Brunt.
“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, while 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.”
Sciver-Brunt was the most likely candidate to take over, having been Knight’s vice-captain, and is one of England’s most experienced all-format cricketers.
During the Ashes, she had stated her desire to fulfil the role when Knight’s future remained uncertain, and has previously led England in 11 T20s and once in one-day internationals, with nine of those being wins.
But Sciver-Brunt’s appointment also felt inevitable considering England’s lack of other leadership options, having failed to implement a proper succession plan despite the considerable length of Knight’s tenure.
Spinners Charlie Dean, 24, and Sophie Ecclestone, 25, were other potential candidates but are lacking in captaincy experience.
England’s home summer consists of white-ball series against West Indies and India, starting in May, while Sciver-Brunt’s first major assignment will be the 50-over World Cup, which takes place in India in September.
