Heather Knight has been appointed England women’s captain following the retirement of Charlotte Edwards, while coach Mark Robinson has defended his decision to replace the former skipper.

Knight, 25, captained the Hobart Hurricanes to the semi-finals of last summer’s Women’s Big Bash League and had been England vice-captain since August 2014.

She will be assisted by world No.1 T20 bowler Anya Shrubsole, with the 24-year-old quick appointed England vice-captain.

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Known primarily for her skills with the bat since her international debut in 2010, Knight has also become threatening with the ball since switching from medium pace to off-spin two years ago.

"I'm hugely proud and honoured to be named England captain and can't wait to face the challenges ahead," Knight said.

"It will be no easy task to follow the remarkable success and impact that Charlotte Edwards enjoyed at the helm of the England team over the last ten years – she has been a wonderful servant to the game, an inspirational leader and truly world class player.

"But I am excited by the challenge and will look to utilise the incredible platform that Lottie has laid to ensure that the England women’s team continues to grow and develop."

Knight had a successful season as Hobart captain last summer // Getty

Knight’s first assignment as England captain will be a home series against Pakistan starting on June 19, but she will head into the series – which looms as a must-win for England as they look to improve their position on the Women’s One-Day Championship ladder – without one of her major weapons in Sarah Taylor.

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Wicketkeeper Taylor, England’s top-ranked batter, announced she was taking an indefinite break from cricket last month and while the ECB had hoped she would return for the home summer of cricket, Knight confirmed on Friday the 26-year-old would not be available.

England will also be without veteran Lydia Greenway, who announced her international retirement last week.

Edwards, captain since 2006, ended her 20-year England career in May after being told by Robinson her place in the side was no longer secure – a decision the coach said had to happen.

Shrubsole has been named England vice-captain // Getty

"We’ve got a backlog of unfulfilled batters who need the chance to play,’ Robinson said on Friday.

"We need to create opportunities for other players to come through and to grow and it’s not as if we’re breaking up a winning team.

"It was down to timing. Lottie would have filled her boots against Pakistan but the World Cup is 14 months away and would we have learnt anything? The danger was that we would go to the World Cup with the same failings.

"At some point you have to draw a line and say 'we need to do something differently'."

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England play Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20s between 20 June and 7 July before heading to the West Indies for a five-match ODI series in October.

The three ODIs against Pakistan and the Windies series count toward the Women's Championship, the qualification tournament for the 2017 Women's World Cup in England.

England are currently in sixth position on 13 points and need to climb into the top four to automatically qualify for the tournament.