Sophie Devine set to retire from ODIs after 2025 World Cup

After this year's World Cup, New Zealand veteran Sophie Devine will abandon the one-day international format. As a result, she will be opting for a casual playing agreement for the 2025-26 season, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Tuesday (June 17). The 35-year-old has excelled for New Zealand in ODI and T20I cricket. In 50-over cricket, she started as No. 11 and worked her way up to become one of the most important batters in the team over her 152 national team appearances, which is second only to Suzie Bates. She has reached 16 50s and eight centuries, which places her second behind Bates. Devine has not only scored 3990 runs, which ranks fourth, but she has also taken 107 wickets, which is second only to Lea Tahuhu's total. In 2020, the all-rounder became New Zealand's permanent captain, and she led the team to their first T20 World Cup victory. In the previous two tournaments, they were unable to advance past the group stages in the ODI format. Devine expressed her decision, "It feels like the right time for me to start stepping away." "Having NZC's support in finding a solution that allows me to continue giving to the White Ferns makes me feel very fortunate. It's important that everyone knows I'm focused and dedicated to giving this group everything I can before I step away. I'm looking forward to contributing in the next six to nine months because I'm really excited about where this young group is going. Liz Green, Head of Women's High Performance at NZC, stated that Devine's decision to sign a casual playing agreement will allow another player to become fully contracted as part of the 17-member central contracts list that will be released tomorrow. Green stated, "Sophie has served the White Ferns for nearly 20 years, and NZC is fully supportive of her quest to find more balance at this stage in her career." "We're pleased to have been able to reach an agreement that allows her to continue to be involved with the White Ferns on a case-by-case basis while allowing another player to be fully contracted," the team said. The T20 champions will play Australia in Indore on October 1 to kick off their ODI World Cup campaign. The selection of Devine's successor following the tournament will take place prior to the start of the New Zealand domestic summer.