Ben Sawyer appointed New Zealand Women head coach

Sawyer, who previously served as an assistant coach with Australia Women, will take charge of New Zealand for the first time at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Ben Sawyer has been appointed head of New Zealand Women.

The 44-year-old, who previously served as an assistant coach within the Australian women’s set-up, joins the White Ferns on a two-year contract and will take charge of his new side for the first time at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

As well as working with Australia Women, with whom he won two T20 World Cups and the 2022 Women’s World Cup, Sawyer also coached WBBL side Sydney Sixers for seven seasons, winning two titles, and is currently head coach of Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

He was due to travel to Sri Lanka with Australia’s men’s set-up before the New Zealand job emerged.

Sawyer replaces Bob Carter, who stepped down following New Zealand’s exit from the World Cup, and inherits a side undergoing a transition period.

At the end of May, Amy Satterthwaite announced her retirement from international cricket after being omitted from the list of central contracts. Fast bowler Lea Tahuhu and spinners Leigh Kasperek and Frankie Mackay also lost their contracts while veteran wicketkeeper Katey Martin has opted to hang up her gloves after 21 years behind the stumps.

^{Ben Sawyer served as an assistant coach with Australia Women, winning two T20 World Cups and one Women's World Cup [Hannah Peters/Getty Images]}

New Zealand Cricket have instead opted to focus on youth, with six players receiving central contracts for the first time.

Results-wise, his new side have been in something of a rut. Since the start of 2020, Sophie Devine’s team have won just two T20 series from a possible six and have failed to reach the knockout stages in the previous two T20 World Cups.

Prior to beating India in February 2022, New Zealand’s most recent ODI series win was back in June 2018 and they now sit fifth in the ICC rankings. Their sixth-placed finish at their home World Cup was their worst ever finish and they haven’t won the title since 2000.

Sawyer, however, is optimistic about the talent in the New Zealand squad, commenting: "I can't wait to get stuck in. I see a lot of potential in this White Ferns group and I feel really optimistic about helping to untap that potential, so they can take their cricket to the next level.

"It's certainly going to be a learning process as I get to know the players and they get to know me, and my cricket philosophies and coaching style."

Skipper Devine, meanwhile, hopes to benefit from Sawyer’s experience of working with the Australian women’s set-up.

"We're really looking forward to working with Ben and receiving the benefit of his experience," she said. "He's been a key figure in the ongoing success of the Australian women's team and we hope we can tap into that bank of experience and grow together as a team.

"The upcoming Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham and the tour to West Indies will be really helpful in that regard - there's nothing like away tours for bringing a group together and sharing a common purpose."

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