Ben Sawyer has vacated his position as head coach of the New Zealand Women’s cricket team after a four-year stint. The decision follows a comprehensive high-performance structural review by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), which determined that the team requires a new leadership approach. Although Sawyer’s contract was slated to continue until December 2026, it has been terminated, and the team manager role held by Rachel Pettit has also been disestablished.
Since his appointment in June 2022, Sawyer oversaw a significant period for the squad, highlighted by a bronze medal finish at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. His most notable success was guiding the team to a historic victory at the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. His tenure also saw the emergence of several young talents who received their first central contracts under his guidance, including Eden Carson, Georgia Plimmer, and Izzy Gaze, all of whom eventually became world champions.
Daryl Gibson, NZC’s Chief High Performance Cricket Officer, expressed appreciation for Sawyer’s professionalism and dedication, noting that the move was difficult but necessary to steer the program’s future trajectory. While the board begins recruiting for a new permanent head coach and a newly created Performance Lead role, an interim coach and manager will oversee the squad for the upcoming T20I series in Australia, with that team announcement expected in early October.
Reflecting on his departure, Sawyer described his time with the White Ferns as a privilege. He stated that leading the group was a great honour and expressed pride in the team’s collective achievements over the last four years. Despite his disappointment regarding the exit, he extended his best wishes to the players and the board for the future.
Captain Amelia Kerr praised Sawyer’s dedication, particularly his influence during the team’s successful World Cup campaign. Kerr highlighted his tireless preparation and his unwavering belief in the squad during challenging periods, noting that his leadership was instrumental in the team’s path to the trophy. She emphasized that the group remains deeply grateful for the energy and heart he invested in the program. The report also notes that particularly during the team’s run to the 2024 T20 World Cup title. “We’re hugely grateful for Ben and everything he’s put into this team,” said Kerr, captain Amelia Kerr also paid tribute to Sawyer’s contribution. The report also notes that this team means a lot to me and I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in the past four years. The report also notes that “It was a difficult decision which was not made lightly, but it reflects our view that the next stage of the White Ferns journey requires a different leadership approach to support the future direction of the programme.”.
