10 lesser-known facts about New Zealand’s supremely talented all-rounder, Amelia Kerr

Amelia Kerr is not only a superstar in New Zealand cricket but also a global sensation in women’s cricket. At just 24, she has already established herself as one of the best all-rounders in women’s cricket history.

Her outstanding performances were instrumental in leading New Zealand to victory in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, where she stood out as one of the tournament’s brightest stars.

10 interesting facts about Amelia Kerr

1. Cricket journey

Amelia was born on 13 October 2000 and is a New Zealand cricketer who currently plays for Wellington and New Zealand.

2. A cricket family legacy

Amelia comes from a family deeply rooted in cricket. Her mother, Jo, and her father, Robbie, both represented Wellington at the domestic level, her grandfather, Bruce Murray, was a former Test cricketer for New Zealand, further extending the cricketing tradition in the family. ensuring cricket was part of Amelia’s life from an early age.

3. Cricket runs in the blood

Cricketing talent is abundant in the Kerr family. Amelia’s older sister, Jess Kerr, is also a cricketer who made her debut for the New Zealand national team in 2020.

Also READ: Twitter Reactions: Amelia Kerr shines as New Zealand outclass South Africa to clinch their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title

4. A passion for teaching

Beyond cricket, Kerr has a passion for education. Her sister Jess is also a teacher at Tawa Intermediate School, which both siblings attended. Amelia herself worked as a teacher aide for autistic students, demonstrating her commitment to supporting children with special needs outside of her cricket career.

5. Young love on the cricket field

In addition to her illustrious cricket career, Amelia has also captured attention for her personal life. She is reportedly in a relationship with Nathan Smith, a New Zealand cricketer, further cementing her ties to the sport both professionally and personally.

6. A record-breaking debut

Amelia became the youngest player to debut for New Zealand’s women’s cricket team at just 16.

 

 

7. A historic double century

At 17, Amelia became the youngest cricketer, male or female, to score a double century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. Her unbeaten 232 against Ireland in 2018 is not only the highest individual score in a women’s ODI but also the second-highest score ever by a New Zealander in ODI cricket, behind only Martin Guptill.

8. Mental health advocate

In 2022, Amelia launched the “Treading Water” project, in collaboration with the youth mental health charity I Am Hope. This initiative featured a series of videos that offered insights, advice, and support to young people dealing with mental health challenges. Amelia has been open about her own struggles with mental health, making her advocacy work personal and powerful.

9. T20 World Cup heroics

In the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup final, Amelia played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s first-ever T20 World Cup triumph. Her all-round performance, including a gritty 43 off 38 balls and bowling figures of 3/24, earned her the Player of the Match award in the final against South Africa.

10. Double crowned: Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament

Amelia’s standout performances throughout the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup saw her become the first female cricketer to be named both Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament, cementing her place as one of the top players in world cricket.

 

Also READ: 10 lesser-known facts about New Zealand Women’s rising star Eden Carson

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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