Edwards Confirms No Doubt Over Knight’s Spot in England’s World Cup Squad

Former England captain Charlotte Edwards said there was never any question about Heather Knight’s place in the World Cup squad after Knight led a series‑deciding win in the third T20 against India.

The 35‑year‑old smashed an unbeaten 70 as England comfortably chased 181 to clinch the series 2‑1, bouncing back from a slow start to the summer.

In the five preceding T20s against New Zealand and India, Knight’s strike‑rate had drawn criticism, with scores of 19 (17), 25 (23), 18 (22), 21 (24) and 18 (14).

Yet in the series finale, the newly‑capped most‑capped England women’s player delivered a fluent 42‑ball innings, striking ten fours.

“It’s been interesting hearing some of the press this week,” Edwards told BBC Sport. “The more people wrote her off, the more I knew she’d respond with a performance like this.”

She added, “I spoke to her after her record game at Chelmsford about her character – it’s one of her strongest attributes, and we saw that in abundance tonight. It was wonderful for her to deliver this performance ahead of the World Cup, but there were never any doubts in our dressing room about Heather.”

Knight partnered with Alice Capsey for a flawless 137‑run stand for the fourth wicket, with Capsey contributing 81 off 43 balls. The duo dominated India’s bowlers, with Knight employing reverse‑sweeps and clever behind‑square runs while Capsey struck straight down the ground.

Capsey, only 21, has already cemented her place in Edwards’ World Cup XI after bursting onto the scene as a teenager.

Edwards praised her winter hard work, saying, “That was the best cricket I’ve seen her play. We discussed areas for improvement at the start of the winter, and she has worked incredibly hard. Now she’s reaping the rewards, and there’s nothing more satisfying than winning a match for England in this way.”

Source link