White Ferns captain Suzie Bates has stepped down from the role after six years in charge, paving the way for Amy Satterthwaite to take over as the incoming skipper.
Bates said she'd arrived at a point in her career where she could contribute more to the team by placing a greater emphasis on her performance as a player.
"Captaining the White Ferns was a great honour and a rewarding experience," she said. "I can look back knowing I gave it my all for six years.
"I know I still have a lot to contribute to the White Ferns and international cricket, and that the best way for me to do that is by concentrating more energy into my performances on the field."
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Satterthwaite, who has led the national side previously, was excited to take the reins ahead of a busy 2018-19 season for the team.
"It’s a huge honour to be asked to captain your country and I’m really excited about what lies ahead," Satterthwaite said.
"Suzie has done an outstanding job captaining the White Ferns over the past few years and I’m sure she’ll continue to contribute considerably in a leadership sense."
NZC chief executive David White said he supported Bates and understood her reasons behind the decision.
"Suzie has made it clear to me that she wants to lift her game to another level and build further on what already has been a stellar career," said White.
"She is already one of our 'greats' in terms of New Zealand cricket and we're happy to do anything we can to continue to enable her."
Bates took over as White Ferns captain at the end of 2011, leading them through two ICC World Cups and three ICC Women’s World T20 tournaments.
Satterthwaite's first assignment in charge will be a three-match T20 series against Australia before the team head to the ICC Women’s World T20 in November in the West Indies.
Newshub.
