England’s premier all-rounder and newly appointed national women’s team captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, has opted to relinquish the Trent Rockets captaincy in The Women’s Hundred 2025. The move is driven by a desire to manage her increasingly demanding workload, which has grown since she assumed the England captaincy two months ago.
Sciver-Brunt, who has become an emblem of consistency and leadership in the women’s game, will continue to feature for the Rockets as a player but will step aside from the captaincy. This decision reflects her commitment to both personal well-being and team performance, as she navigates the dual roles of a national skipper and one of England’s most influential match-winners.
Sciver-Brunt’s decision comes at a pivotal juncture in her career. Appointed England captain after a period of transition, she led the side to emphatic 3-0 sweeps in both the T20I and ODI series against West Indies. Her leadership credentials were further burnished by her calm demeanour and tactical acumen, qualities that will be tested as England prepare to face India in a five-match T20I series, followed by 3 ODIs.
Her responsibilities extend beyond the boundary ropes. Sciver-Brunt, who became a mother in March following the birth of her son Theo with wife Katherine, has been praised by teammates for her seamless transition into parenthood. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast, Tammy Beaumont lauded her colleague’s resilience.
“Nat is just a complete natural. She’s always been great with kids, and being with her own son is absolutely no different. She’s almost superhuman at times, just to be able to be a mother and a New England captain and perform at the level that she always has done. I think it’s just a testament to her character that she can always take anything and everything in her stride.”
Sciver-Brunt’s decision to step down as Trent Rockets captain is not just about workload management. She continues to recover from a long-standing Achilles tendon injury, which restricted her to batting-only duties during the recent West Indies series. Her ambition is to return to bowling in time for the 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka later this year, underpinning the need to pace her commitments.
With Sciver-Brunt stepping aside, the Trent Rockets are yet to announce a new captain. The spotlight turns to possible successors, with Australia’s versatile all-rounder Ash Gardner emerging as a strong contender. Gardner brings leadership experience from recent stints with Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and a brief captaincy role at Sydney Sixers in the WBBL.
Grace Scrivens, the former England Under-19 captain, also stands as a potential candidate. Despite her lack of international experience, Scrivens led England Women A in both T20 and four-day formats during their recent tour of Australia and in the ongoing New Zealand A series. This could be her moment to step into a senior leadership role and further her development.
Sciver-Brunt’s performances remain central to England’s fortunes. She notched three fifties during the West Indies tour, including an unbeaten 55 in the second T20I at Hove on 23rd May 2025. Her form and leadership will be crucial as England seeks to overcome a formidable Indian side and kicked off the India series on a positive note, scoring yet another fifty.
As Nat Sciver-Brunt balances the demands of captaincy, personal life, and injury management, her decision to step back from the Trent Rockets leadership is a testament to her maturity and foresight. It ensures she remains a vital asset for both club and country, as England embarks on a critical phase of their cricketing calendar.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN Cricinfo)
