New Zealand Women’s ODI World Cup: Transitioning Beyond the Devine Era Under Coach Sawyer

New Zealand is preparing for a future without Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODIs following Sunday’s match. This was a central topic during New Zealand’s pre-match press conference before their Women’s ODI World Cup game against England.

Head coach Ben Sawyer emphasized the team’s efforts in nurturing young talent, acknowledging that the departure of key players like Sophie Devine, and potentially Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, was anticipated. “A deliberate decision was made a few years ago to focus on developing younger players and to place trust in them,” Sawyer stated at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Saturday.

Sawyer also mentioned ongoing discussions about the future leadership of the team, although he did not disclose who would lead the side in ODIs, promising that information would be shared later.

In related news, New Zealand is aiming to give Devine a fitting farewell gift. For more, read here.

Such discussions have been part of the team dialogue for several years, especially since Sophie talked about stepping down as captain during the T20 World Cup in 2024. Sawyer noted that players have been identified to form a leadership group, but he opted to keep specific details private for now.

For England, the focus is on building momentum for the World Cup semifinals. “To win the World Cup, you need to defeat top teams like Australia, South Africa, and India. We’re ready for the challenge,” said England opener Tammy Beaumont.

Published on October 25, 2025.