Sophie Devine named permanent New Zealand captain

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have named Sophie Devine as the permanent captain of the Women’s team. Devine was the temporary skipper in place of Amy Satterthwaite who went on maternity leave in 2019.

30-year-old Devine took charge of the White Ferns at the start of this year. Under her captaincy, New Zealand reached the group stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Satterthwaite will not return as the vice-captain, with Devine at the helm.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be awarded the White Ferns captaincy,” Devine said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as captain over the past season. It was challenging results-wise at times, but I feel we are moving in the right direction as a team, both with our cricket and our team culture.”

“I’m very much looking forward to working with Amy who has an exceptional cricketing brain and I feel we can form a strong leadership partnership in combination with a well-established leadership group.”

During her tenure as captain, Devine led from the front with the bat as well. Leading up to the T20 World Cup, she registered five fifty-plus scores in T20Is. She then started the T20 World Cup with a smashing half-century against Sri Lanka. In the Women’s Big Bash League last year, Devine finished as the player of the season with 769 runs and 19 wickets.

Devine will now lead the Kiwi Women’s team in the 2021 World Cup scheduled for February-March.

“Strong leader”

“Sophie is a strong leader, she has her own style and knows what she wants from herself and the team,” said New Zealand head coach Bob Carter.

“It’s a testament to her ability as a leader that her performance with the bat last summer went to a new level. She leads with her actions and the team responds well to her leadership style.

“Amy is on the comeback to cricket after giving birth and she is progressing really well. Having her experience, knowledge and leadership working alongside Sophie is only going to benefit the team.”