Ben Sawyer has departed as head coach of the New Zealand Women after four years in charge, with New Zealand Cricket deciding not to renew his contract following a comprehensive review of the women’s high-performance structure. Sawyer’s contract was due to run until December 2026 but NZC said the review had identified a need for a new Performance Lead role, while the Manager position held by Rachel Pettit has also been disestablished.

An interim head coach and team manager will take charge of the side for next month’s T20I series in Australia, with recruitment for the permanent head coach and Performance Lead roles set to begin shortly. The Australia squad will be announced in early October.

Sawyer took charge in June 2022 and oversaw a period that included a bronze medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and, most notably, New Zealand's historic win at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024. Several young players who received their first central contracts around the time of Sawyer’s appointment, including Georgia Plimmer, Eden Carson and Izzy Gaze, went on to become World Cup winners under him.

Sawyer said it was a privilege and an honour to coach the side over four years. "Being the White Ferns coach has been a huge honour and I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this group," he said.

"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. Although I’m disappointed to be leaving, I want to wish the team and NZC all the best."

Acknowledging Sawyer's contributions, NZC’s Chief High Performance Cricket Officer Daryl Gibson said: "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.”

Captain Amelia Kerr also paid tribute to Sawyer’s contribution, 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.

“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.”