Wellington: New Zealand women’s coach Ben Sawyer will get the chance to lead the White Ferns to consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup titles after he won a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the helm until December 2026.
Sawyer played a major role in helping New Zealand claim their maiden T20 World Cup trophy in UAE in October and the Australian-born coach has been rewarded with a new deal that will see him lead the White Ferns for at least two more years.
The new deal will see Sawyer oversee New Zealand’s campaign at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India next year and their T20 World Cup title defence in England in 2026.
New Zealand ODI captain Sophie Devine was thrilled Sawyer had re-committed to the White Ferns, an ICC report said.
“I’m stoked Ben’s re-signed with us,” Devine said.
“The work he’s done with the White Ferns group and for women’s cricket in New Zealand has been huge,” she said.
“The team is in a great spot right now so I think locking him in for another two years and having that consistency will be big for us,” Devine added.
Sawyer’s most immediate challenge is this month’s three-match ICC Women’s Championship ODI series at home against Australia, where the White Ferns will attempt to stay in contention to qualify automatically for next year’s 50-over World Cup.
New Zealand currently sit in sixth place on the Women’s Championship standings, with the top six teams at the completion of the event automatically qualifying for next year’s tournament in India and the remaining four teams forced into a qualifier tournament.
UNI
