All-rounder Sophie Devine has been named the permanent captain of the New Zealand Women’s cricket team with Amy Satterthwaite to take the role of vice-captain following her return from maternity leave.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the appointment on Thursday (July 9), saying Devine who was named interim captain in January 2020, will continue in the role on a full-time basis, while the incumbent skipper Satterthwaite will be her deputy once she returns from maternity leave.
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The NZC further added that Satterthwaite, who welcomed her first child with wife and White Ferns team-mate Lea Tahuhu last year, would return as New Zealand Women’s vice-captain when the squad reassembles for a training camp at Lincoln, near Christchurch, next week.
The board also added that Devine’s strong leadership and brilliant all-round performances saw her offered the captaincy of White Ferns on a full-time basis. New Zealand’s governing body also said both Devine and Satterthwaite would form a key part of the leadership group as the teamwork towards the World Cup 2021 hosted in New Zealand early next year.
The NZC said in a press release, “Sophie Devine has been confirmed as the WHITE FERNS captain with Amy Satterthwaite to take the role of vice-captain following her return from maternity leave.”
Meanwhile, Devine expressed her gratitude at being handed the full-time job of the New Zealand Women’s team, describing the captaincy as a huge honor and privilege while insisting to form a strong leadership bond with her second-in-command Satterthwaite.
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Devine stated, “It’s a huge honor and privilege to be awarded the White Ferns captaincy. 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.”
While Satterthwaite said it was a great privilege to lead New Zealand after Suzie Bates and now, she is “looking forward to returning to international cricket and doing best to support Sophie and the team.”
On the other hand, White Ferns coach Bob Carter said he was impressed with the way Devine has so far captained the team, saying the team responds well to her leadership style.
Carter said: “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.
Sophie is a strong leader; she has her own style and knows what she wants from herself and the team. 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.”
The coach signed off by saying, “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.”
Noteworthy, New Zealand is scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20s against Australia in September.
(With Stuff NZ Inputs)
