WHITE FERNS Head Coach Ben Sawyer Departs Role Following High-Performance Review

New Zealand Cricket has announced that WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer has departed his role after four years at the helm, following a review of the organisation’s women’s high-performance structure.

Appointed in June 2022, Sawyer oversaw a transformative period for the national team, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a historic victory at the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.

While his contract was originally slated to conclude in December 2026, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that the programme has entered a natural transition phase requiring a strategic shift in leadership.

Reflecting on his tenure, Sawyer, expressed deep gratitude for his time leading the squad.

“Being the WHITE FERNS coach has been a huge honour and I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this group.”

“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,” Sawyer said. 

Noting that the decision was reached to support the future direction of the high-performance pathway, NZC chief high performance cricket officer, Daryl Gibson, added: “Ben’s overseen a period of considerable change and progression for the WHITE FERNS and we’re deeply appreciative of the commitment, professionalism and time he invested in the women’s game.”

“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,” Gibson stated.

WHITE FERNS captain, Melie Kerr, praised Sawyer’s dedication and meticulous preparation during a defining era for the sport.

“His preparation was second to none, he poured his heart and soul into the role and left no stone unturned trying to make the team better.

“Ben played a huge part in a defining moment for women’s cricket in New Zealand.

“He showed a belief in us that helped propel the team to World Cup victory after a difficult few months and that’s a testament to his character and leadership,” Kerr said.

The high-performance review has also resulted in the disestablishment of the WHITE FERNS manager role, paving the way for a newly introduced Performance Lead position. An interim head coach and team manager will oversee the squad ahead of their upcoming tour to Australia, with formal recruitment for both leadership roles commencing shortly.

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