New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine played her final One Day International on Sunday at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, marking the end of an illustrious 19-year career. The 36-year-old featured in her 159th ODI, scoring 23 off 35 balls and claiming one wicket in a match that saw England chase down 169.
Following the game, both teams and support staff gave her a heartfelt guard of honour. Reflecting on her final outing, Sophie said, “Disappointed, to be honest. Not to make it about myself, I really wanted to go out on a high, and today’s per wasn’t it. Credit to England, it’s not the way we wanted our tournament to go, but there are bigger things in life, so we will move on.”
Celebrating A Legacy Of Consistency And Camaraderie
Having debuted in 2006 against Australia, Sophie concluded her ODI journey with 4,279 runs, nine centuries, and 111 wickets. She remains the only New Zealand player, and third overall, to achieve the remarkable double of over 4000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs. Reflecting on her emotions, she shared, “I actually probably didn’t cry as much as I thought I was going to.”
She further added :
“There were a few tears in the anthem, but the great thing about announcing it early was that I was able to process a lot of those emotions and, speaking with my support network back home, it was just about enjoying today – going back to the roots of why I played the game 19 years ago: to play alongside my mates.”
“The result didn’t go our way, but for me, honestly, it was never about the result. It was about finishing here with my mates. It was nice to finish with Susie Bates bowling down the other end – I had to rig that a little bit – but sharing that with her was really special. We’ll spend a bit of time in the changing room tonight, reflect, have a few laughs and drinks, but I’m just so humbled and fortunate to have done this as a career for 19 years.”
Looking Ahead To The Future
When asked about her long-time teammates Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, Sophie responded, “No, they’ve absolutely shut up shop, so I don’t know. They just left me out to dry a little bit. But both of them could keep going for many, many years. I don’t doubt that. It’s completely their decision, and when they make it, it’s up to them.”
She continued :
“Those two players in particular have played such an important role in my career, and I feel so lucky to call them some of my best mates. Whenever they do call time, I’ll be right there on the sideline, cheering them on. It’s just about confidence and belief…”
“I’m really excited about the talent that’s starting to come through now, the youthful energy and playfulness within the group. We’re professional athletes, and we’re judged on our results, but it’s so much bigger than that. Thank you to everyone who’s come out today, I feel so blessed to have played this incredible game – but I’m not fully done just yet, so I’m sure I’ll be annoying people around the grounds.”
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