Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
Sophie Devine is still in the infancy of international captaincy but the New Zealand skipper says she has already locked in her approach for leading the team.
- Devine will lead the WHITE FERNS in her first global tournament as captain.
- The 30-year-old sits second on the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings for both batters and all-rounders.
- Half of New Zealand’s Women’s T20 World Cup squad featured in this season’s Women’s Big Bash League.
Devine, who sits second in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings, last month took over from Amy Satterthwaite, who is on a break from cricket after giving birth to her first child.
Four scores of 50 or more in her first four T20I innings ensured the perfect start to her reign for Devine, tapping into her vast experience to keep the WHITE FERNS level-headed ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
“Captaincy is a huge honour but I’m a player like all the rest of my team, so I’ve got to keep doing my job and performing for my teammates,” said the 30-year-old, speaking at the captains’ media day at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.
“Whether batting, bowling or in the field, I’ve got to make sure I do that role.
“I’ve been around a while and have seen a lot. I know cricket can be a really fickle game – you’ve got to ride the highs and lows of it and if I can stay nice and calm, it makes it even more special.
“Every win at a World Cup is a must-win game. You look at how the teams have played, including the way Thailand played in the Qualifiers, and you can’t take any side for granted.
“As soon as you do, you’re in danger of losing games and you can’t afford to do that.”
Devine has already enjoyed a strong season in Australia, top scorer in the Women’s Big Bash League and earning herself the Player of the Tournament award for her role with Adelaide.
But she wasn’t the only White Fern embracing the opportunity, believing the experience can keep her side on the right track when tight games boil down to the vital moments.
“We had microphones in the changing room as well so we were listening in,” she joked.
“It was a fantastic opportunity, Australians welcome the Kiwis with open arms and for seven or eight of our players to get access to the best domestic competition in the world, playing at a lot of venues in this World Cup, it’s going to hold us in good stead.
“Players have had success and it brings a level of confidence to the team. We’ll have a lot of experience and learnings from the WBBL.
“We’ve got a really tough group and the teams in the other one have as well, so we’re really looking forward to taking on the big guns. Every game is one we really aim for.”
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
