New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr: India matches are the best challenge

Amelia Kerr has opened up on her career highlights to date and what playing cricket with her sister meant to her during her ICC 100% Cricket Superstars interaction.

Somewhat surprisingly, playing against India at ICC tournaments – and not New Zealand’s neighbouring rival Australia – was earmarked by Kerr as her favourite cricketing challenge.

“I think playing at World Cups, playing India is something I think that’s always a great challenge because wherever you are in the world, they get a crowd that is supporting them. And spin is key for them,” Amelia said on ICC 100% Cricket Superstars.

Amelia went wicketless in her ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debut against India in 2017, but starred in New Zealand’s subsequent win in the 2022 edition, with a brisk 50 and 3/56. She marked spin as a great challenge when going up against India.

“The ability to play spin well, especially in sub-continent conditions, I think that’s a great challenge,” Amelia went on. “ And they’ve got some world-class (players), so I think for me that’s a key match-up and playing them is always a challenge.”

During their 2022 match-up, Amelia got the better of India’s star player Mithali Raj, beating the batter in the air and getting her stumped. She earmarked big wickets like these as her favourite dismissals.

Amelia described playing cricket with her sister Jess as an extraordinary feeling and looked back at her favourite sporting occasion with younger sibling.

“To represent your country with your sister is amazing. We always kind of share that moment when we sing the national anthem together. There’s something that’s really special for us,” Amelia said.

“One game that stands out a lot was after the series I came back from mental health, and we played India at home, and we chased down 280.

“And I was batting in the middle of Jess and I got a hundred that day and Jess hit the winning runs.”

Despite playing for New Zealand for years, the sisters had missed each other’s company on several occasions, making the India game memorable.

“We kind of had a few tours not being together through her being injured and my mental health,” she added.

“So it just felt like a pretty special moment for the both of us and our family.”