England captain Heather Knight will be lining up for Somerset when the re-vamped women's season kicks off in April.
Somerset County Cricket Club have confirmed the England international has signed for the club ahead of the 2025 season.
The World Cup winning skipper played her way through the Devon Pathway before making her debut for the county in 2005. She then represented Berkshire between 2010 and 2019.
Her England debut came in an ODI against India in Mumbai in March 2010, and she made an immediate impact by opening the batting and top scoring with 49 in England’s two-wicket victory.
She has since gone on to feature in 143 ODIs, 124 IT20s and 12 Test matches, scoring more than 6800 runs and claiming 84 wickets with her right-arm off spin.
She was named England Captain in 2016 and led her country to World Cup glory the following year.
In 2018 she was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year and was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
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Heather was the first woman to score an international century in all three formats of the game and was the first female player to score a 50 and take five wickets in an ODI.
Heather captained Western Storm to two Kia Super League titles and continued to feature for the team in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
She has represented Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL and London Spirit in The Hundred.
After agreeing to represent Somerset, Heather said: “Somerset is a club that holds a special place in my heart, so I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity. The South West has played an integral role in my journey and it’s a privilege to be able to represent the region that means so much to me.
“We have a genuine opportunity to create something special. This is the first Somerset women’s team of the professional era, and we have a duty to those who have gone before and laid the foundations to make sure that we are a team that competes on the field and inspires young people across the region. There is a special heritage surrounding the Club and that is something that we will be taking very seriously.
“The Cooper Associates County Ground is a special place to play, and I can’t wait for some of the younger players to experience the atmosphere that the Members and supporters can generate. The Taunton crowd is passionate and knowledgeable, and we will be doing everything that we can to win games of cricket and give them something to celebrate.”
Somerset Women Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “Heather is a player I’ve worked with for many years, and I’m delighted she will be playing for Somerset when her England commitments allow. She is a true professional who impacts games both on and off the pitch and is an invaluable addition to any side.
“I’m sure our supporters will be looking forward to seeing Heather in a Somerset shirt and winning games of cricket for us.”
Somerset Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry added: “Heather is a world class performer who has shown her quality on the biggest stages across the world. She is hugely respected within and outside the game, and the experience she can share both on and off the field will have a major impact on the team, the Club and the region.
“It’s an honour to have the England Captain committed to the Club, and there is no doubt that she will inspire future generations of Somerset players, Members and supporters.”
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