Age has proved no barrier for Amelia Kerr’s international cricket prospects.
The Wellington Blaze leg-spinner, who only turned 16 on October 13, has been included in the WHITE FERNS squad for their upcoming home series against Pakistan, comprising five One Day Internationals, and a T20.
Selectors Haidee Tiffen and Kirsty Bond have made three changes to the squad, with Kerr’s call-up coinciding with the return of Sophie Devine and Liz Perry.
Natalie Dodd and Maddy Green have missed selection, while Leigh Kasperek and Erin Bermingham were unavailable.
Kerr has been representing Wellington Blaze since she was 14, impressing with her consistency and economy in a discipline considered one of the most difficult in the game.
She can call on quite a family pedigree: her grandfather is former Test player Bruce (BAGS) Murray, her mother Jo played for Wellington women, and her father is Robbie Kerr – formerly a long-serving Firebirds representative.
Kerr is not the youngest to be selected for the WHITE FERNS – in 2000, former Auckland Hearts representative Munokoa Tunupopo played three ODIs the week before she turned 16.
Tiffen said the changes were made with the campaign ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in mind.
“Our strategy is to use the opportunities we have to challenge players, and to evaluate our game-plans – in order to give us the best possible lead-in to the world cup,” she said.
“Amelia has deserved this recognition – it’s a wonderful opportunity for her, and we’re also delighted to be welcoming back Sophie and Liz.”
The WHITE FERNS will play their first three ODIs against Pakistan on at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval on November 9, 11 and 13, before moving to Nelson for the final two ODIs and the stand-alone T20.
The last three ODIs will offer Suzie Bates’ squad the opportunity to collect valuable ICC Women’s Championship points and cement automatic entry for the world cup, to be staged in England.
WHITE FERNS SQUAD: Suzie Bates (c), Sam Curtis, Sophie Devine, Holly Huddleston, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Morna Nielsen, Katie Perkins, Liz Perry, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu.
