In a richly deserved recognition of an illustrious career, Sophie Devine — a name synonymous with New Zealand cricket — has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the sport. Devine, the dynamic all-rounder and longstanding captain of the White Ferns, now stands not only as one of cricket’s most explosive performers but also as a national icon whose legacy extends far beyond the boundary ropes.
From Porirua to the pinnacle of world cricket, Sophie Devine’s journey has been marked by resilience, brilliance, and leadership. Bursting onto the international scene in 2006, she has grown into one of the sport’s most complete and respected players. Her contributions with both bat and ball have defined a generation of White Ferns cricket.
Devine’s career statistics paint a picture of consistency and impact across formats. In 152 ODIs, she has amassed 3,990 runs, including eight centuries and sixteen fifties, with a top score of 145. With the ball, she has taken 107 wickets with best figures of 3/24.
In T20Is, her dominance is even more stark. In 146 matches, she has scored 3,431 runs with one century and twenty-one fifties. Her highest score in the format is 105. She has picked up 119 wickets at a brilliant average of 19.34, with best figures of 4/22. She has also proven her agility in the field, taking 48 catches in T20Is and 41 in ODIs.
Sophie Devine’s career began at just 17, when she made her ODI debut against Australia on 22 October 2006. Her T20I debut came just days earlier, on 18 October 2006, also versus Australia. Devine’s career has spanned 18 years, 298 international matches, and countless memories etched into New Zealand’s sporting folklore.
The King’s Birthday Honours brought with it a moment of deep reflection for Devine — and immense pride. Currently training in Christchurch with the national squad, she said, this was “certainly something I wasn’t expecting by any stretch of the imagination,” receiving the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“But to be recognised amongst some other incredible people, it’s certainly something that I feel really privileged and humbled to do and hopefully as a good representation of cricket.”
Her acknowledgment comes at a moment when she is both looking back on her achievements and cautiously mapping out her future. Devine recently took a break from cricket to prioritise her mental health — a decision she says was hard but vital.
“At the time it was an incredibly difficult decision, as it always is, to step away from the game,” she said. “But to be able to look back now, I’m really proud of myself and the support I had from New Zealand Cricket, the players’ association, and family and friends. It was certainly a decision that needed to be made.”
“Hopefully it extended my playing career a little bit. I’m really in a good space now to be as best prepared as I can be going into another busy 12 months.”
The last year encapsulated the highs and lows of elite sport. Devine led New Zealand to a historic ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title in the UAE — the White Ferns’ maiden victory in the tournament. But the whirlwind of fixtures following that triumph, including series in India, domestic competitions, and the Big Bash League in Australia, left her mentally drained.
The effects of burnout saw Devine skip the Super Smash grand final, the Women’s Premier League in India, and a home series against Sri Lanka. Despite that, her contribution to New Zealand’s World Cup win remained unforgettable.
“Something that’s been really great is to be able to sit back and enjoy the success that we did have as a group at that World Cup. I think particularly coming off the back of an incredibly hard winter where we had an unfortunate stretch of losses in a row — but the resilience shown by the group to step up and win that World Cup was amazing,” said Devine.
For young talents like Amelia Kerr, Devine’s presence has been more than just inspirational — it’s been foundational. Kerr, the standout performer in the World Cup final with 43 runs and 3 wickets, credited Devine and Suzie Bates for motivating her cricket journey.
“I was inspired to be a White Fern watching that 2010 World Cup which Sophie was at,” Kerr recalled. “I wrote stories about winning the trophy with Devine and Bates after watching them in the final of the 2010 tournament.”
With her next move still uncertain, Devine is not slowing down just yet. She’s set to feature in The Hundred for Southern Brave later this year, followed by the ODI World Cup in India in October. This King’s Birthday Honour is not just a celebration of Sophie Devine’s statistics or trophies — it’s a recognition of a life dedicated to lifting a sport, empowering her teammates, and inspiring a nation.
(Quote sourced from The Post)
