BERKSHIRE cricket star Heather Knight is in the running to replace Charlotte Edwards as the England captain, writes Dave Wright.

Winnersh-based Edwards, 36, last week called an end to her England career, spanning 20 years, after being told by coach Mark Robinson that he wanted to build a new and younger squad.

And Clare Connor, the Director of England Women’s cricket, has confirmed that 25-year-old vice-captain Knight was among the candidates to replace her.

“That decision is out of my hands; it’s up to Mark,” was all she was prepared to say on her possible promotion.

The Berkshire county skipper admitted she was “really sad” to hear of Edwards’ retirement, adding: “She can be immensely proud of what she has achieved in the game.

“It has been a pleasure to play for her for the last six years.

“As a team we have obviously got to move forward and look to the future, and we are really excited to do that.

“In the short time Robbo (Robinson) has been involved with us, he has brought in fresh ideas and challenged us a lot as well, which is obviously great as it is what we need to get the best out of us.”

Knight was seen at her best at Wokingham CC last Sunday when playing for Berkshire against Warwickshire in the ECB County Championship, but she still wasn’t able to prevent her side from slumping to a 14-run defeat.

She returned excellent bowling figures of 10-7-13-2 in Warwickshire’s innings of 200 after they had been 123-7 with 80 runs coming in the last 15 overs.

Berkshire also conceded 31 extras, which included 19 wides.

In reply, Knight and Linsey Smith put on 97 for the first wicket in 24 overs but the departure of Smith for 40 led to a major collapse and, of the remaining batsmen, only No. 8 Sherisa Gumbs (13) managed to reach double figures.

Knight was the last wicket to fall, being trapped lbw for 80 with the team total on 188 off 48.1 overs.

She occupied the crease for a minute over three hours, faced 135 balls, six of which she dispatched to the boundary.

This was Berkshire’s first defeat in three games and leaves them third in Division One.

Their next home game is against Yorkshire at Finchampstead on Sunday, May 29.