Defeat Against Australia Raises Questions About England's Leadership, But Alex Hartley Backs Heather Knight
London, February 1, 2025: Despite questions surrounding the leadership of England's women's cricket team captain, Heather Knight, 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup winner Alex Hartley has reaffirmed her support for Knight, who has been leading the team since 2017.
After England's poor performance in the current Ashes series against Australia, there has been growing pressure on Knight and head coach Jon Lewis. Following an innings defeat in the only Test and a comprehensive 16-0 loss in the series, many have called for changes to both the coach and the captain. However, Hartley believes that Knight is still the right leader for England.
Speaking on the BBC Test Match Special podcast, Hartley said, "I don't know what the future holds for Jon Lewis, but something has to change – whether that is captain, coach, or leadership. But I genuinely believe Heather Knight is capable of taking this team forward."
Hartley further added, "Heather will likely go home and reflect on whether being captain is right for this team. But you can't make those decisions immediately after losing a series 16-0. She might take some time at home and then weigh up whether she is the right person."
Knight has been leading the team since 2017 and has captained them in 199 matches. Although she has yet to win an Ashes series as captain, her leadership played a key role in their triumph at the 2017 Women's World Cup.
When asked about her future following the Ashes defeat to Australia, Knight said, "It's probably quite a raw and emotional time. We will sit down and reflect, and we'll do what is best for the team and for women's cricket."
Despite the difficult times following the Ashes defeat, Hartley believes that a thorough review and careful consideration will help determine the best course of action for the future.
