New Zealand Women’s cricket team’s all-rounder Amelia Kerr, who made her debut for Women’s Big Bash League this year serving Brisbane Heat, hopes to use WBBL as a platform to prepare for the upcoming T20 world cup.
The 19-year old started playing for New Zealand in 2016. In August 2018, she was awarded a central contract by New Zealand, following the tours of Ireland and England. On 13 June 2018, Kerr made highest individual score by smashing 232 not out in match against Ireland and became the youngest cricketer, male or female to score a double century in ODI’s. The double century was also 3rd highest individual score male or female, in an ODI. Later in the same match she also took a five-wicket haul.
Amelia is proving to be a useful asset for her side, In her maiden match she returned figures of 3/8 to set up a 92-run victory for the defending champions in Sydney. Playing WBBL presents an opportunity to get familiar with Australian conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup next year. Kerr has played just seven international games in Australia so far, scoring 21 runs and picking up 8 wickets.
The White Ferns have made to consecutive finals of the T20 World Cup in 2009 and 2010 while their recent records at the tournament haven’t been great and Kerr is keen to restore the past success her team has had.
“It’s been a disappointing last few World Cups for us and we didn’t perform in the games that mattered,” she told cricket.com.au. “Getting to play in the conditions where the T20 World Cup will be, there’s nothing better than that. With seven Kiwis playing in this league, that will be good preparation for us, We’ve seen change at Cricket New Zealand and we’ve got new contracts for people [to be] able to be more full-time. So we can work harder and get better at our skills and spend more time together as a team.”
Adding to the conversation she said: “I knew from quite a young age that I wanted to play for New Zealand, I played a lot of sports growing up, but when I was nine, I remember watching the White Ferns on TV and from that moment, I knew it was a dream of mine to be a White Fern one day.”
Sources: ICC, Wikipedia
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