As Sophie Devine bows out of a glittering 20-year international career at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, the New Zealand legend is issuing a passionate plea: bring back Test cricket for the White Ferns. The 36-year-old all-rounder, one of the world’s best with nearly 8,000 runs and 239 wickets across ODIs and T20Is, regrets never experiencing the format despite her dominance in white-ball cricket.
Ending her journey alongside retiring stalwarts Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, Devine sees Tests as “the ultimate” challenge, urging New Zealand Cricket to prioritize it amid a global resurgence.
Sophie Devine’s voice carries weight as the White Ferns prepare for their white-ball tour of England from May 10 to 25, 2026, a three-match ODI series followed by three T20Is, before defending their 2024 title under new skipper Amelia Kerr. New Zealand clinched that ninth edition triumph by defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai on October 20, 2024, with Devine at the helm.
England, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, announced their 2026 squad first on April 28, while Kerr’s White Ferns followed on April 29. Yet, as Devine told AFP, her career highlight reel lacks the longest format: New Zealand’s women last played a Test in August 2004, drawing against England at Scarborough. “It just hasn’t been a priority for New Zealand cricket,” she said. “I’ll walk away from the game having not played one, but it’s really cool to see more countries are taking up that opportunity to play Test cricket.”
The landscape has shifted dramatically. Between 2010 and 2020, only eight women’s Tests featured England, Australia, India, or South Africa. The past five years saw 12 such matches, with West Indies slated for a one-off against England in August 2027, their first in over 20 years. Devine knows the path forward demands groundwork.
“You can’t just rock up and play a four-day or five-day women’s Test, there’s obviously a lot of work that has to go into that,” she explained. “None of us has played multi-day cricket. Well, I have, but that was when I was in high school or playing club cricket 20 or 25 years ago. For me, it’s probably the ultimate form of the game.” She advocates starting domestically to build stamina and skills, a nod to her own club days.
Beyond cricket’s formats, Devine has been a trailblazer in mental health advocacy, taking breaks to combat feeling “numb” amid triumphs. Her openness paved the way for others, including Kerr, who shares her struggles freely. “There certainly does seem to be a bit more acceptance with athletes sharing their stories and the mental health battles that people face,” Devine reflected. “Sometimes there’s a stigma attached to mental health, especially with athletes, but hopefully I’ve been part of that acceptance and willingness to talk and share. Would I have liked to have not gone through it? Absolutely. But I think it’s part of who I am and it’s helped me grow and learn and become who I am today.” This mindset fueled the White Ferns’ 2024 turnaround, from 11 straight losses to World Cup glory.
Amelia Kerr has elevated that leadership, averaging over 70 with the bat and under 18 with the ball since taking captaincy. Devine joked, “Maybe I should have handed over the captaincy much sooner, had I known what it would do for her game.” She predicts a “tough” playing XI for 2026: “We’re in a better place than we were in ‘24.” Reflecting on her era’s evolution, from earning NZ$30 (US$18) per match early on to £210,000 (US$ 285,000) for Welsh Fire in the women’s Hundred this March, Devine feels “fortunate and grateful.” She’ll continue franchise cricket post-retirement, eyeing bigger horizons: “It’s really exciting. And it’s only going to get bigger and better.”
Sophie Devine’s swan song could spark real change, blending her all-round brilliance with a vision for Test revival. As the White Ferns chase back-to-back T20 World Cups, her ultimate wish lingers.
Quotes: AFP
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.