Devine Regrets Missing Out on Test Cricket as Retirement Nears

Sophie Devine laments missing test cricket as she prepares for retirement

New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine will retire at the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup, lamenting the lack of Tests for the White Ferns and praising the progress in women’s cricket and player welfare since her debut.

Devine opens up on missing Test cricket, her mental health journey, and the transformation of women’s cricket pay as she ends her 20-year international career...

New Zealand star Sophie Devine has told AFP she regrets never playing Test cricket in her 20-year career and hopes the White Ferns return to the format soon, calling it “the ultimate.”

The 36-year-old will bring her international career to a close at the Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales this June-July, retiring alongside fellow veterans Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu.

One of the game’s premier all-rounders, Devine has tallied nearly 8,000 runs and taken 239 wickets across ODIs and T20 internationals.

The White Ferns last played a Test in August 2004, when they drew with England at Scarborough.

“It just hasn’t been a priority for New Zealand cricket,” Devine said of the format she “would have loved to have played.”

“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.”

From 2010 to 2020, only eight women’s Tests were played, and all of them involved England, Australia, India or South Africa.

In the last five years, that number has risen to 12 Tests between those same countries, and the West Indies are scheduled to play a one-off Test against England in August 2027, their first in over two decades.

Devine said New Zealand would need to put more focus on longer-form cricket at the domestic level first.

“You can't just rock up and play a four-day or five-day woman's Test, there's obviously a lot of work that has to go into that,” Devine said.

“None of us have 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.”

In recent years Devine has stepped away from cricket to prioritise her mental health, admitting she felt “numb” at times even during her biggest career highlights.

Her openness has encouraged others to do the same, with New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr among those now speaking candidly about their lowest moments.

“There certainly does seem to be a bit more acceptance with athletes sharing their stories and the mental health battles that people face,” Devine said.

“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.”

Devine said her own challenges shaped the way she approached leading the White Ferns at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The team reversed a run of 11 consecutive defeats heading into the tournament and went on to lift the trophy.

Kerr, now 25, has carried that mindset forward and arguably strengthened it since becoming captain, averaging over 70 with the bat and under 18 with the ball.

“Maybe I should have handed over the captaincy much sooner, had I know what it would do for her game,” Devine said.

“We're in a better place than we were in '24. That playing XI is going to be tough to pick.”

As she approaches her final appearances for the White Ferns, Devine said she feels “fortunate and grateful” to have played in the era she has.

Looking back, Devine recalled earning as little as NZ$30 (now AU$25) per match early in her career, compared to the £210,000 (AU$400,000) she was signed for in March to play for Welsh Fire in the women’s Hundred.

“It’s really exciting,” said Devine, who plans to continue playing franchise cricket after retiring from international duty.

“And it's only going to get bigger and better.”