• Sawyer served as the Australian women’s bowling coach.
• Commonwealth Games will be Sawyer’s first assignment as the new coach.
• Shelly Nitschke is Australia’s ODI and T20I temporary coach.

Ben Sawyer, an Australian, was named head coach of the New Zealand women’s cricket team on Monday, with the Commonwealth Games next month serving as his immediate focus.

The 42-year-old assumes the position after serving as the Australian women’s bowling coach for three years.

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His departure further depletes the world’s best squad, following the recent departure of Australian head coach Matthew Mott to lead England’s men in white-ball cricket.

After former coach Bob Carter’s retirement, New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine, described Sawyer as a “reset” for the team.

“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,” said Sawyer, who also coaches Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

Shelley Nitschke is the current temporary coach of the ODI and Twenty20 world champions, Australia.

“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,” she said.

Read more: Root stars as England beat New Zealand in 1st Test

“The upcoming Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham and the (subsequent) 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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