Upon the conclusion of the forthcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in October, Sophie Devine will vacate her position as captain of New Zealand’s T20I team. The 34-year-old will continue to lead the ODI squad.
After replacing Amy Satterthwaite as full-time captain in 2020 after serving as a stand-in captain for the 2014–15 season, Devine has led New Zealand in 56 Twenty20 matches with a 25–28 win-loss record (one tie).
Devine, who has amassed 3268 runs in 135 matches since her debut in 2006 and is New Zealand’s second-highest scorer, said she decided to balance her workload.
“I’m very proud to have had the privilege to captain the White Ferns in both formats,” Devine said. “Being captain comes with extra work, which I’ve liked but can also be challenging.
“Stepping away from the T20 captaincy will take a bit off my plate so I can focus more of my energy on my playing role and nurturing the future leaders.”
Devine, recovering from a foot ailment in time for the T20 World Cup, emphasized that she will not give up her ODI captaincy and intends to play both white-ball formats for New Zealand.
“I’m not ready to give up ODI captaincy just yet,” she stated. “But I won’t be around forever, so I think stepping away from captaining one format at a time gives the next leaders time to find their feet,” she said.
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New Zealand’s head coach, Ben Sawyer, remarked, “We’re really grateful for the leadership she brings to this group on and off the field. Soph is the epitome of a fearless leader.”
“I know the decision wasn’t easy for Soph, but I fully support it and know that she’s still going to be a prominent leader in the group.”
New Zealand is expected to reveal its 15-man World Cup roster on September 10. In the interim, the team will travel to Australia for a three-match Twenty20 International trip.
