This is the biggest question of all.
Knight’s steady, reassuring presence at the helm has been a double-edged sword, and the management’s lack of succession planning is now coming back to haunt them at a very tricky time.
They have until 21 May to appoint a new coach and captain in time for the white-ball series against West Indies, which is followed by India’s arrival at the end of June, before a potentially very difficult 50-over World Cup in India at the end of the summer.
But there is no excuse. England have had nine years to plan for the future, and they have not done it.
Consider the seamless transition from Alyssa Healy to Tahlia McGrath when the former injured her calf before the first Ashes T20, and the likes of Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner who all appear to be competent, future candidates.
Nat Sciver-Brunt seems the most likely successor considering she has been Knight’s deputy and stated her desire to fulfil the role during the Ashes, but England imploded under her leadership during the Commonwealth Games when Knight was injured, and the same happened during last year’s shambolic T20 World Cup group-stage exit.
England also need to be wary of adding any more to Sciver-Brunt’s workload where she already carries the batting line-up and is one of the most experienced bowlers, and is soon to become a mother for the first time.
Amy Jones is another who has deputised for Knight in the past but admitted the role did not come naturally to her, which makes her return unlikely, while other senior players in Kate Cross and Tammy Beaumont do not play all formats.
Off-spinner Charlie Dean has been earmarked as a future England captain for the past couple of years but has yet to be given an opportunity.
Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s best bowler, is another outside contender having had leadership experience with Manchester Originals in The Hundred, but her refusal to be interviewed by former team-mate and now pundit Alex Hartley during the Ashes led to unwanted headlines and attention on England’s team culture and perception.
“There isn’t a standout candidate to take over – that has been one of the biggest downfalls of the past five or six years,” Hartley told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They need a really strong coach moving forward, someone who can get the culture right and they can control the group and sort out the problems within the changing room and then the captain can come in and have strong ideas and work alongside the coach.
“I want a young person, a fresh person, someone like Charlie Dean – I think she’d be an exceptional leader who will play for England for a number of years.”
A nine-year tenure is unlikely to be repeated again, but with Knight still in the dressing room, there is nobody better for the new leader to learn from.
A new era begins here.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c4g0jvwp32yo
Author :
Publish date : 2025-03-22 17:07:34
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
