In a significant blow to England’s cricketing summer, former England skipper Heather Knight has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, as well as the highly anticipated 2025 season of The Hundred, after suffering a severe hamstring injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that an MRI scan on Knight’s right hamstring revealed a “significant tendon injury.” The setback, sustained during her commanding unbeaten 66 in the final T20I against the West Indies earlier this week, will not only keep her out of all international fixtures this summer but also sideline her from London Spirit’s title defence in the upcoming 5th edition of The Women’s Hundred from 5th August 2025.
“Heather will now undergo further assessment with the England Women’s medical team to determine the next steps of her management,” the ECB statement read. Although a timeline for her return remains uncertain, the hope is that she will recover in time for the Women’s World Cup in India, commencing in September 2025.
Knight’s absence leaves a considerable void in both experience and leadership heading into the ODI series against West Indies, starting Friday at 1:30 pm BST (5:30 pm IST), but also the subsequent India series. The 34-year-old’s influence has been pivotal, evidenced by her match-winning performance in the third T20I, where she anchored the innings for England but was unable to take the field after her injury.
Her withdrawal will also be felt keenly by London Spirit, the defending champions in The Hundred, where Knight has been an inspirational figure both on and off the field.
With Knight unavailable, England has called up the dynamic 20-year-old Alice Capsey to the ODI squad. Capsey, who featured in all three T20Is against the West Indies, is yet to make her mark with the bat this series but brings youthful energy and versatility to the side.
Lauren Filer, a pace bowler who recently returned from a knee injury, also joins the squad. Filer has not featured internationally since the series against Australia at the start of the year, and her inclusion provides England with fresh options in their bowling attack, a welcome boost as they fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Cup.
While the loss of Heather Knight is an undoubted setback for England’s immediate campaign, it presents an opportunity for younger players to step up and stake their claim ahead of a crucial World Cup season. As the team adapts to life without its stalwarts, all eyes will be on how new leaders and fresh faces handle the pressure starting with the ODI series against the West Indies.
Fans and teammates alike will hope for a swift recovery for Heather Knight, whose resilience and class will be missed on the field this summer. The England camp, meanwhile, must regroup and rise to the challenge, proving the depth and character of English women’s cricket in the face of adversity.
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