Lord’s Test to mark end of international careers for Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont

By Sanjay Menon — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

England cricketers announce international retirement

Two prominent figures in England women’s cricket, Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, are set to retire from international cricket following the conclusion of the Rothesay Test match against India at Lord’s. The match, which began on Friday, marks the first-ever women’s Test to be held at the historic venue.

Heather Knight, who has captained England on 199 occasions, will conclude her international career after making her debut in 2010. She has accumulated 320 caps for England, establishing herself as the team’s all-time leading appearance-maker. Knight also holds the distinction of being the first England women’s player to achieve centuries in all three formats of the game.

Her international career saw her amass 7,988 runs across all formats. Knight is currently ranked third among England women’s all-time top run-scorers in both the T20 and ODI formats. A notable achievement in her captaincy was leading England to victory in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017.

During the ongoing Test against India at Lord’s, Knight scored six runs before being dismissed. She recently played a significant role in England’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, contributing 58 runs in the semi-final against South Africa, which helped secure a spot in the final.

Beaumont’s career highlights and farewell

Tammy Beaumont, who made her debut in 2009, will also be retiring after the Lord’s Test. She has made 260 appearances for England and is recognized as England’s leading female ODI centurion, having scored 12 hundreds. Beaumont is one of only two English women to have scored international centuries in all three formats of the game.

A significant milestone in Beaumont’s career was becoming the first English woman to score a double century, achieving 208 runs against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2023. She was also named player of the tournament when England won the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2017, where she was the top scorer with 410 runs.

Beaumont expressed her gratitude for her nearly 17-year career with England, highlighting the inspiration the game has provided to young players. She plans to continue playing domestic cricket, including for The Blaze and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

Both players were part of the initial group to receive professional contracts in women’s cricket in 2015. The ongoing Test match against India at Lord’s is available to watch live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 10.30am on Sunday.

Reflections on their contributions

Knight reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude for the experiences and the people who have shaped her during her 16 years as an England cricketer. She acknowledged the difficulty of leaving the dressing room but stated her contentment with the decision and excitement for future endeavors.

She also thanked the fans for their support and love for the women’s game, noting that witnessing its growth has been a privilege. Beaumont echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the honor of playing for England and the desire to pass on the privilege to the next generation.

The match at Lord’s is currently underway, with England trailing India by 269 runs at the end of day two. India’s Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia remain at the crease.

Source: skysports.com