Knight states fitness not a problem for England

Heather Knight has played 278 games for England in all formats. Captain Heather Knight has affirmed that fitness was not the cause of England’s unexpected departure from the Women’s T20 World Cup and is not considered an “issue” within her squad. England’s campaign ended with a group-stage exit in the United Arab Emirates last month, following a disorganized defeat by West Indies where they dropped five catches. In the aftermath, Alex Hartley, a World Cup-winning spinner, commented that England “need to get fitter.” Knight’s team is set to return to competition on Sunday, with the initial T20 match against South Africa in East London commencing a multi-format series. “We have some brilliant athletes and some brilliant players that work exceptionally hard to be fit and ready to play,” Knight informed BBC Sport. Speaking to Test Match Special after the elimination, Hartley, who was part of Knight’s team when England last secured a trophy in 2017, stated: “About 80% of the England team are fit and athletic enough, but there are girls in that side who are letting the team down when it comes to fitness.” Head coach Jon Lewis responded by saying: “I 100% don’t agree with that.” Knight further added: “I don’t think it was a reason why we lost the game and I don’t feel like it’s an issue in this side.” England’s activities away from the field in the UAE also faced scrutiny, as some players attended a boat party and shared details on social media. Lewis and Knight have been eager to grant the squad freedom outside of cricket, hoping this translates into improved performances on the field. “Part of being an England cricketer is touring, experiencing the countries you’re in,” Knight remarked. “Here in South Africa, I’m keen to organise a trip to the Apartheid Museum, keen to go on safari, and that’s part of being an England cricketer and the joy of touring.” Knight continued, “I’ll reassure you our girls work exceptionally hard and looking in on social media isn’t just what we do. You don’t see the hard work this team does, because we do. A lot. That balance is pretty good.” England’s World Cup disappointment was exacerbated by the semi-final elimination of the formidable Australian team. New Zealand, a side England has defeated in their last seven T20s, ultimately secured the trophy. Knight rejected the idea that her team is prone to faltering under pressure, describing the World Cup as merely a “bump in the road.” “We performed pretty badly for eight overs in a competition, but there are so many examples of us handling pressure really well in big moments,” she said. “Unfortunately we didn’t do that against West Indies, but I think it can be a really good reset for us. It will keep us humble and motivate us to work hard on some things we need to do better and keep growing as a side.” Knight sustained a calf injury while batting and was forced to watch from the dressing room as her team struggled in the field during the defeat by West Indies. She has since recovered her fitness after a period with Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash in Australia. England’s World Cup exit also occurred one month after Knight admitted to a charge regarding a historic racist social media post. In 2012, at the age of 21, Knight was photographed in blackface at a party at a cricket club in Kent. “I was glad for it to come out, then I could move on,” she said. “It was a photo from a very long time ago.” “I apologised and it’s something I regret, and that’s the end of it. It wasn’t perfect timing, but I was glad it was out of the way before the World Cup.” Speaking in May, Knight disclosed that the period around 2022, when England suffered a significant defeat in an away Ashes series and nearly faced an early exit at the 50-over World Cup, was the most challenging time during her tenure as captain. Knight has served as skipper since 2016 and considered during the previous 50-over World Cup that it might be her last, but the next one in India is now only approximately 10 months away. Knight, who will celebrate her 34th birthday next month, stated: “That was a thought I had at the time, but the next one comes around quickly.” “I’m not looking too far ahead because we have two massive series in South Africa and Australia. That World Cup is around the corner, but let’s see how we go with these ones.” England’s tour of South Africa features three T20s, three one-day internationals, and a four-day Test, mirroring the structure of the Ashes series in Australia immediately after Christmas. Knight does not believe her team needs to prove a point in South Africa or Australia following their World Cup performance. “Setbacks make you more motivated, keep you humble and make you work harder,” she said. “I wouldn’t say it’s proving a point. It’s about us continually trying to be better, being in positions to be successful and do what we want to do.” “We’re pretty confident that we can continue to evolve as a side and play our best cricket during those big series.”