Image Credit- Getty
After a demanding workload over the past year, Sophie
Devine, the captain of New Zealand, is taking a “wellness break” and
will miss the first part of Wellington’s Super Smash season. Later, a decision
will be made regarding her participation for the balance of the competition.
“Our players’ mental and physical wellbeing is
always our number one priority and it’s clear Sophie simply needs a
break,” NZC head of women’s high performance Liz Green said. “2024 is
shaping as another big year for the WHITE FERNS with England arriving later in
the summer and the ICC T20 World Cup on the horizon.
“Sophie’s understandably disappointed but we’re
adamant she needs this break to re-charge her batteries and be well-prepared
for the upcoming challenges.”
Devine recently participated in the home ODIs and
T20Is against Pakistan, which began four days after her final WBBL match for
the Perth Scorchers. In addition to participating in last season’s Super Smash
at the beginning of the year, Devine has played in 12 T20Is and 9 ODIs this
year. She has also participated in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL)
in March in India, the Hundred in August, the WCPL in August, and the WBBL in
Australia. She is tied for the most T20s this year with Hayley Matthews with
49, and she is ranked slightly behind Matthews among the top T20 scorers in
2023 thus far.
Wellington’s first Women’s Super Smash match will take
place at home against Otago on Thursday. The competition began on December 19.
Prior to the elimination round on January 26 and the championship game on
January 28, each of the six teams will play ten league games.
The home T20I series between New Zealand and England
begins on March 19. However, Devine is anticipated to travel to India for the
second WPL season prior to that.