Suzie Bates has stepped down as WHITE FERNS captain after six years in charge, paving the way for Amy Satterthwaite to take over as the incoming skipper.
Hear the latest from camp as Suzie Bates steps down as captain and Amy Satterthwaite is appointed as the new skip 🎥🎙 pic.twitter.com/0vuwGCC9kl
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) September 12, 2018
Bates said she'd arrived at a point in her career in which she believed 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. I can look back knowing I gave it my all for six years", she said.
"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.”
Bates said Satterthwaite was a very capable captain and would do an excellent job.
"She has my full backing and I am looking forward to supporting her in any way I can."
Satterthwaite, who has led the WHITE FERNS previously, said she is excited to take the reins ahead of what will be 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.”
“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,” said Satterthwaite.
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 Mr 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."
Mr White said Satterthwaite was an experienced and competent leader and had the full confidence of NZC.
"Amy will relish the challenge and I'm sure will be a very good captain."
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 T20I series against Australia before the team head to the ICC Women’s World T20I in November in the West Indies.
The WHITE FERNS begin a four-day camp at Lincoln on Thursday as they prepare for their tour to Australia at the end of the month.
