Nat Sciver-Brunt is being positioned as the next captain of the England women’s cricket team under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Charlotte Edwards. Following Heather Knight’s recent resignation in the wake of England’s Ashes whitewash in Australia, Sciver-Brunt has emerged as the standout candidate to take on the leadership role.
Currently on maternity leave following the birth of her son with wife and former England bowler Katherine Brunt, Sciver-Brunt will hold formal discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board upon her return to training. While she has expressed some concern about balancing her responsibilities across all three formats, Edwards is reportedly ready to manage her workload accordingly to accommodate her new role and personal circumstances.
The transition comes at a critical time for England. With a 50-over World Cup set to take place in India this October, followed by a home T20 World Cup next year and a return Ashes series in 2027, the leadership change marks the beginning of a pivotal period. Despite not being widely known for her tactical acumen, Sciver-Brunt’s vast experience and inspirational qualities have made her the leading candidate for the captaincy, ahead of younger options like Charlie Dean and Grace Scrivens.
The ECB is keen to finalise the appointment before the T20 World Cup launch event at Lord’s on May 1. England’s international summer begins soon after, with a series of limited-overs matches against the West Indies and India. They are scheduled to play three T20s and three one-day internationals against each side. Expectations will be high for England to win all four series, especially in home conditions, but the focus will be on building a squad capable of contending at the 50-over World Cup later this year.
Sciver-Brunt is no stranger to leadership, having previously stepped in as captain when Knight was unavailable. Notably, she led the side during their T20 World Cup group stage defeat to the West Indies, and again in the bronze medal match loss to New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Despite those setbacks, her leadership credentials remain intact in the eyes of the new coaching team.
Edwards and Sciver-Brunt share a close working relationship, having been teammates during the latter years of Edwards’ playing career and colleagues more recently at Mumbai Indians, where they won the Women’s Premier League title in March. This familiarity is likely to ease the transition and foster a shared vision as they seek to raise performance standards.
Improving fitness and accountability within the squad will be a central part of Edwards’ approach. Former England spinner Alex Hartley was vocal about the team’s fitness issues during the Ashes series, and Edwards has already pledged to address this aspect. She has stated her intention to hold players accountable and believes the current squad has the potential to turn things around in time for the World Cup.
With a clear mandate to win, Edwards is determined to instill a winning mentality in the team. She has emphasised the importance of ambition, honesty, and hard work, confident that success is achievable within a short timeframe. As England enters this new chapter under a refreshed leadership structure, the stage is set for a renewed drive toward excellence on the international stage.
