England Women's Cricket: Heather Knight, Records, and the Rise of Women's Cricket
The growth of England women's cricket — the 2017 Women's World Cup victory, Heather Knight's captaincy, the rise of The Hundred, and how women's cricket has professionalised.
England Women's cricket has undergone a transformation in the 2010s and 2020s, driven by professionalization of the domestic game, the creation of The Hundred competition (with equal prize money and similar broadcasting treatment to the men's game), and high-profile tournament success. England won the ICC Women's World Cup in 2017 at Lord's (defeating India by 9 runs in a thrilling final) and have been consistent performers in women's white-ball cricket. Captain Heather Knight has been at the centre of this era.
Heather Knight's Leadership
Heather Knight has captained England Women since 2016, making her one of the longest-serving captains in women's international cricket. A top-order right-hand batter, Knight combines technical correctness with aggressive intent — she was central to England's 2017 World Cup win, scoring crucial runs throughout the tournament. Knight has also been an advocate for the professionalisation of women's cricket globally, using her platform as one of the sport's most recognised players to argue for equal resource allocation.
- 2017 Women's World Cup: England defeated India by 9 runs in the final at Lord's — Anya Shrubsole took 6/46 in India's chase of 229, bowling them out for 219.
- The Hundred: Launched in 2021 with equal prize money and a women's competition alongside the men's — eight franchise teams, simultaneous scheduling, shared venues.
- Regional contracts: The ECB introduced centralised women's contracts in 2014 — England was among the first major boards to professionalize women's cricket fully.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: One of the world's best women's all-rounders — bat, seam bowling, and explosive hitting make her England's most important player.
- Growing audiences: Women's Test cricket at Lord's in 2023 attracted a sold-out crowd of 25,000 — a milestone for women's cricket in England.
Frequently asked questions
When did England Women win the Cricket World Cup?
England Women have won the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup four times: 1973 (inaugural), 1993, 2009, and 2017. Their 2017 victory — defeating India by 9 runs in a thrilling final at Lord's — was their most celebrated, watched by a large crowd and global broadcast audience. England Women have also won the ICC Women's T20 World Cup (2009) and multiple Ashes series against Australia. They are one of the most consistently successful women's cricket teams.
What is The Hundred women's cricket?
The Hundred Women is the women's competition that runs alongside the men's competition in the ECB's The Hundred franchise tournament. Eight franchise teams (Manchester Originals, London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, etc.) each field men's and women's squads, with games played at the same venues, often as double-headers on the same day. The Hundred pays equal prize money in men's and women's competitions and has significantly raised the profile of women's cricket in England, with sold-out games and major television coverage.
Who are England Women's best cricketers currently?
England Women's most important players in the mid-2020s include: Heather Knight (captain, top-order batter), Nat Sciver-Brunt (all-rounder, one of the world's best), Tammy Beaumont (opening batter), Sophie Ecclestone (world's top-ranked women's spinner), and Kate Cross (pace bowling). The team has depth across formats and has been particularly strong in T20 cricket, consistently reaching major tournament semi-finals and finals.