World Cup winner Melie Kerr secures top ICC honour, named T20I Player of the Year 2024

New Zealand’s cricketing sensation, Melie Kerr has been announced as the ICC Women’s T20I cricketer of the year 2024, marking a significant milestone in her flourishing career.

World Cup winner Melie Kerr secures top ICC honour, named T20I Player of the Year 2024
World Cup winner Melie Kerr secures top ICC honour, named T20I Player of the Year 2024

At just 24, Kerr’s impressive all-round performances have not only made her a superstar on the global stage but also helped New Zealand to win their maiden T20 World Cup title. With this award, Kerr enters an elite list, as she becomes only the second New Zealander to win the award, sharing the distinction with her World Cup winning team-mate Suzie Bates who won the award in 2016.

Throughout the past year, Kerr’s stats have been nothing short of remarkable. Spread across 18 matches, she compiled a total of 387 runs at a healthy average of 24.18 and claimed 29 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 13.6. Notably, her 29 wickets represent the highest tally ever achieved by a New Zealand women’s cricketer in a calendar year.

Melie, bagged the Player of the Tournament in the Women’s T20 World Cup held in UAE, clinching 15 wickets at an average of 7.33 with an economy rate of 4.85 across her 6 matches. She was not only the highest wicket taker of the tournament, but also shattered records, with her 15 wickets being the most ever by a single bowler in the tournament’s history. Adding to this, she had been consistent with the bat finishing with 135 runs at an average of 27.

The highlight of Melie’s year would be when she rose to the occasion during the Semi-Final of the T20 World Cup against West-Indies. With bowling figures of 2/14, she added the final nail in the coffin by taking the crucial wicket of Deandra Dottin who had been batting fiercely on 33. She was the most economical bowler on both sides.

Also Read:  Virat Kohli shows Support to Indian Women's Team for World Cup Campaign

The all-rounder was already dominating the tournament in all three facets of the game, but she peaked at the perfect moment, producing the match-winning performance in the final to clinch the Player of the Match Award. Coming in at number three early in the innings, she played a crucial anchoring knock, scoring 43 off 38 balls, ensuring that the White Ferns posted a competitive total.

https://x.com/imfemalecricket/status/1883137747902513630?t=RWnDdsnsLgHyz4yBkik2UQ&s=19

In the second innings, South Africa seemed to have been on the forefront, after a strong start in the powerplay, but Kerr flipped the momentum with the ball. She took two key wickets in a single over, dismissing both Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, to bring back the match to New Zealand. Finishing with exceptional figures of 3/24 in four overs, Kerr delivered the best bowling performance of the game. Adding another feather to her cap, she pulled off a stunning catch over her shoulder to dismiss Nadine de Klerk, sealing the contest in style.

After being crowned as the Women T20I Player of the Year, she said, “It’s a huge honour to win the T20 ICC Player of the Year Award. Obviously, it was the world cup year, so this format was really important. I love the responsibility that the white ferns have given me, and yeah, it’s a team I love playing for.”

(Quote sourced from the ICC)

Loves all things female cricket

Liked the story? Leave a comment here