Catching up with Sophie
Brendon Egan.
What was your first bat?
I’m not sure if it was a Gunn & Moore, but it was a Hit for Six, that’s what it was called. I’m not sure if it was bought for me, but it was certainly one of the first ones I used and I would have been five or six.
White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine needs another 161 runs to become the fourth batter in women’s T20I cricket to bring up 3000 runs when their three match series against Bangladesh, starting in Christchurch today. She talks to
Cricket idols as a kid?
I don’t know why, but [Australian quick] Brett Lee was the person I used to love watching bowl. When I was younger I was more of a bowler and the way he was able to bowl absolute bullets, rapid, and get shape on it too was certainly something I looked up to. A bit closer to home it was the likes of Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, the players that could absolutely tonk the ball.
Best lunches in the sport?
Hands down Lord’s. It’s literally like going into a restaurant. It’s a slightly smaller dining area, but there’s literally menus up on the blackboard and you get a choice of what you want and it is literally three courses – an entre´e, main, and a dessert as well. It’s sometimes a bit tougher being a bowler and if you have to bowl second to restrain yourself. Lord’s is something else.
Most memorable sledge directed against you?
I haven’t had too many.
I used to get a few more when I was back playing boys’ cricket. It was nothing intelligent. It was always, ‘What’s a girl doing playing boys’ cricket?’, or ‘Go back to the kitchen’. We always took great pleasure then when we beat them. I’ve probably been quite lucky that it doesn’t get dished out to me.
Who’s the best women’s cricketer in the world, outside the White Ferns right now?
Bowling-wise, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, she’s certainly up there. Left-arm spinners in the women’s game seem to have a hold on a lot of people and she’s done some pretty incredible things. It’s a bit scary to think how young she is (23). Still looking at England, I think Nat Sciver is one of the best players going around and has been for a long time and will continue to be. You look at the likes of [Australia’s] Beth Mooney as well, I’ve had the pleasure of playing alongside her at the Scorchers and the consistency she’s got is freakish. The women’s game has some serious talent in it.
Where are the White Ferns at in T20 cricket two months from World Cup?
I thought we made some great steps [in the West Indies in October] on the back of the Commonwealth Games, heading to the West Indies and playing in some pretty tricky conditions to get the results that we did with different people standing up. The spinners were fantastic over there. We want to really start to nail down what our best XI is and the style of cricket that we want to play. The really pleasing thing is we’ve been able to expose a fair few number of players to the group and they’ve been able to stand up at different times. The fact we’re getting a bit more depth now is really pleasing.
You played 36 tests for the Black Sticks women’s hockey side. What are you most proud of?
It was a pretty special time. Champions Trophy over in Holland (in 2011) was certainly a highlight for me. I think we picked up bronze in that tournament. It was incredible, especially to play hockey in Holland is a bit like Lord’s for cricket or India – the crowds we got. Just so proud to have played as many games as I did and to have been in that environment and with that group of players. It just taught me so much, not only as a hockey player, but as an athlete. At that time to juggle both sports was pretty special and something I’ll reflect on a bit more when I hang things up and can look back.
What’s your approach to captaincy?
The most important thing for me is