Ahead of New Zealand’s clash against Bangladesh, Amelia Kerr speaks about learnings, leadership, and finding rhythm in the World Cup campaign. After two early losses in the tournament, New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr believes there’s still plenty of belief and positivity within the White Ferns camp as they look to bounce back against Bangladesh.
“Yeah, obviously it’s not the way you want to start a tournament with two losses,” Kerr admitted. “But the dressing room’s good, we’ve had some really honest conversations. There have still been a lot of positives to take out from the first two games. In tournaments like this, you can’t dwell too long. You’ve got to move on, learn from what you could do better, but also remember the stuff you’ve done really well and keep building on it.”
Kerr reflected on the conditions so far, saying the pitches have offered assistance to both departments. “There’s been quite a bit of turn and bounce in the middle overs, which is exciting for bowlers. But when we’re batting, apart from one or two overs, we’ve played some very good cricket. It’s been a heavy travel schedule too, so we’re just trying to adapt as quickly as possible.”
The all-rounder felt the team had their moments in the previous match but couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most. “I think we got to a stage where we were back on top of the game, the likes of Brooke and Sophie batted really well in the last game. But once we lost one or two quick wickets, that put us on the back foot. When that happens, and you’re chasing the game, it becomes tough to build momentum.”
Kerr also praised Sophie Devine’s leadership and resilience during the tournament. “She’s been outstanding, that hundred against South Africa was special. Her leadership, her work ethic, the way she’s carried herself- it’s been inspiring. It hasn’t always been easy; she’s had to rebuild in a few innings, but she’s really stepped up. It’s great having someone like her in form because it lifts the whole team,” said Kerr.
On Suzie Bates, who has recorded ducks in back-to-back outings, Kerr was full of faith and admiration. She said, “Leading into this World Cup, Suzie scored a truckload of runs in the warm-up games. She’s been looking good. She’s made starts and got out twice after that, but I think she’s in great touch. With her experience, she’ll bounce back quickly. There’s no concern there, we know how valuable she is.”
It’s Kerr’s first time playing in Guwahati, and she’s enjoyed the atmosphere so far. “Yeah, it’s my first time here. The crowd’s been amazing in every game. The scores have been slightly low across venues but hearing that energy from the stands has been special.”
Looking ahead to the pitch and match conditions, Kerr said adaptability will be key, “It could be a surface that turns a bit, or it might play flat, we’ll only really know tomorrow. It’s about getting information as quickly as possible from our coaches and opening batters to understand what it’s doing and adjust from there.”
She also acknowledged Bangladesh’s growing competitiveness in world cricket, who defeated Pakistan to kick start their campaign and put up an impressive showing against England, sensing a historic first win but didn’t have fortune on their side.
Kerr acknowledged, “They’ve got a really good bowling attack, and they showed that against England- they put them under real pressure. Every team’s a challenge, especially in this longer format where you’ve got to stay switched on for longer periods. I think it’s going to be a great game.”
With confidence, self-awareness, and belief still intact, the White Ferns will look to turn their campaign around starting with Bangladesh.
Loves all things female cricket