The avid followers of cricket are well aware of the term ‘sledging’. Basically, it’s a practice in which some players seek to gain an advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing player. The whole purpose of sledging is to try and weaken the rival’s concentration, thus instigating them to make mistakes.
When India’s men team last toured Australia, a lot of verbal exchanges took place. Who can forget the battle between Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Australian captain Tim Paine. One can say that sledging is a usual thing in men’s cricket but does a similar tactic happen in women’s cricket too? Well, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has the answer.
Sophie is arguably one of the best all-rounders in women cricket at present, and she is a household name in New Zealand. Sophie has represented her nation in both cricket and hockey. Recently, she led her side in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
During an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Sophie explained whether sledging takes place in women’s cricket or not.
“What do people not know about sledging in women’s cricket?” Sophie was asked.
She responded to the question and said: “Doesn’t happen often. And if it is, usually it is reasonably witty and funny.”
Sophie was next asked to name an all-rounder across women’s or men’s cricket she loves to watch. The Wellington-born went with South African legend Jacques Kallis and said she used to enjoy watching Kallis play and he was a pretty classical batsman.
Sophie was also queried to reveal the quickest bowler she has ever faced. The White Ferns skipper took the name of her teammate Lea Tahuhu and Shabnim Ismail of South Africa.
Sophie is currently the number one T20I all-rounder. She has played 105 One-Day International games and 91 T20Is, in which she has amassed 2570 and 2384 runs. Till now, Sophie has grabbed 71 ODI wickets and 87 scalps in T20 internationals – highest for New Zealand in the shortest format of the game.
