In a surprising move ahead of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand’s star all-rounder Sophie Devine has announced that she will be stepping down as the team’s T20 captain after the tournament. This decision comes as New Zealand prepares to kick off their World Cup campaign against India on October 4 in the UAE.
A Strategic Decision to Reduce Workload
Sophie Devine, one of the most experienced and successful captains in women’s cricket, has decided to step down from the T20 captaincy to reduce her workload. She intends to focus more on her performance and to pave the way for new leadership within the team. Devine, who has been at the helm since 2020, feels that this is the right time to pass on the baton after leading New Zealand through various challenging and successful campaigns.
Devine has been a crucial player for New Zealand, known for her aggressive batting and effective bowling. Under her leadership, New Zealand played 56 T20 matches, winning 25 of them. She took over as a full-time captain in 2020 after initially serving as a stand-in captain during the 2014-15 season. Despite stepping down from T20 captaincy, Devine will continue to lead the team in One Day Internationals (ODIs), ensuring that her experience and leadership remain available to the team in the 50-over format.
Focus on Recovery and Future Series
Currently, Sophie Devine is in the process of recovering from a foot injury that has kept her out of action. She is expected to return to the field next month when New Zealand faces Australia in a three-match T20 series, which will be crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup. Her decision to step down from the T20 captaincy comes at a time when she is focused on making a full recovery and contributing to the team’s success as a player.
New Zealand Cricket Yet to Name a Successor
With Sophie Devine stepping down, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) now faces the task of finding a new leader for the T20 team. As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding her successor, but the board is expected to make a decision soon, keeping in mind the need for a smooth transition and continuity in leadership.
A Record-Breaking Career
Sophie Devine’s legacy in T20 cricket is not just limited to her captaincy. She holds the record for the fastest century in women’s T20 cricket history, a feat she achieved in 2021 during New Zealand’s Super Smash competition. Devine smashed a century in just 36 balls, hitting 9 sixes and 9 fours, and finished unbeaten with 108 runs. This remarkable achievement broke the previous record held by Deandra Dottin of the West Indies, who had scored a century in 38 balls back in 2010.
As Devine steps back from the captaincy role, her focus will now be on continuing her outstanding cricketing journey and helping the New Zealand team excel in both T20 and ODI formats. Her contributions to the game have been immense, and her decision to step down reflects her commitment to both her performance and the future of New Zealand cricket.
