Sophie Devine, NZ Women's Captain, to Skip Sri Lanka Series for Health Reasons
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Synopsis
Sophie Devine, the captain of New Zealand's women cricket team, will miss the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in March due to her focus on personal health and well-being. This follows her earlier withdrawal from major tournaments, highlighting the significance of mental and physical health in sports.
Key Takeaways
- Sophie Devine prioritizes her well-being.
- Devine withdraws from Super Smash and WPL 2025.
- Three ODIs and two T20Is against Sri Lanka start on March 4.
- Devine's leadership was vital in winning the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
- RCB has replaced her with Heather Graham.
Auckland, Feb 17 (NationPress) The captain of the New Zealand women’s cricket team, Sophie Devine, has announced her absence from the series against Sri Lanka in March, as she places her well-being as a top priority, according to the cricket board's statement on Monday.
This decision follows her withdrawal from both the Super Smash and the 2025 Women’s Premier League based on professional guidance received last month.
Liz Green, the Head of Women’s High Performance at NZC, emphasized the significance of player health: "We fully support Sophie’s choice to withdraw from the upcoming series," stated Green.
“The health of our players is our utmost priority, and it’s crucial that Sophie feels healthy and fit prior to her return to competitive cricket," Green added.
The series featuring the White Ferns versus Sri Lanka kicks off on March 4, consisting of three One-Day Internationals and two T20Is.
Sophie Devine has been instrumental in leading the White Ferns to victory in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup held in the UAE last October.
As an all-rounder, she is nearing a significant achievement with 3990 runs in Women’s ODIs, maintaining an average of 31.66 in international 50-over matches.
Following the T20 World Cup triumph in October 2024, Devine participated in ODIs against India, played in the WBBL for the Perth Scorchers, and competed in the ODI series against Australia in late December.
Devine was part of the RCB team that clinched the title in 2024 and was retained before the 2025 auction. In the previous season, she tallied 136 runs and six wickets across ten matches.
After her decision to withdraw from the WPL 2025, RCB has chosen Heather Graham as her replacement.
