- The women's cricket captain of New Zealand, Sophie Devine, has declared her intention to retire from One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Later this year, following the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, she will officially retire
Sophie Devine, the captain of the New Zealand women's cricket team, announced on Wednesday that she will be retiring from One Day Internationals (ODIs) after the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka later this year.
In ODIs, Devine, who is arguably the best all-round player in the game, has taken 107 wickets, scored eight of her nine international hundreds, and amassed 3,990 runs. Her final ODI appearance will be at the World Cup, which begins on September 30.
“It feels like the right time for me to start stepping away,” Sophie said. “I’m really excited about the future of this young group and I’m looking forward to contributing over the next six to nine months.” Devine has chosen a relaxed playing contract for the 2025–2026 season, meaning she will not be one of the 17 centrally contracted players for New Zealand Cricket (NZC), even though she is retiring from ODIs.
Liz Green, NZC’s Head of Women’s High Performance, commended Devine for her nearly two decades of dedication to the White Ferns. NZC CEO Scott Weenink also lauded her as an “extraordinary leader and ambassador,” noting her lasting impact on the sport. The next ODI captain for the White Ferns will be announced following the World Cup, ahead of the upcoming home season.
