Amelia Kerr, the star cricketer from New Zealand, has been awarded the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for her outstanding performances in 2024. She surpassed other top contenders like Laura Wolvaardt, Chamari Athapaththu, and Annabel Sutherland to claim the highest honour in women’s cricket.
Kerr excelled in all three aspects of the game throughout the year, setting a benchmark for world-class all-rounders. Her exceptional fielding skills uplifted the New Zealand team on numerous occasions, and she proved to be one of the most formidable leg-spinners in the world, serving as the White Ferns’ go-to wicket-taker.
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With the bat, Kerr was the backbone of New Zealand’s batting lineup. She showcased her versatility by playing expansive knocks to capitalise on strong starts or by anchoring the innings when the openers failed to deliver.
The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, introduced in 2017, has been shared among three players until now. Australia’s Ellyse Perry, India’s Smriti Mandhana, and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt have each won the award twice.Kerr not only becomes the first New Zealander to receive the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy but also the first Kiwi to be named the overall ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
Kerr’s crowning moment of 2024 came at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where she was named the Player of the Tournament. She also earned the Player of the Match award in the final against South Africa, leading New Zealand’s women to their maiden ICC T20 World Cup title.
In nine One Day Internationals during the year, Kerr scored 264 runs at an average of 33 and picked up 14 wickets. However, it was her T20 International performances that earned her the Cricketer of the Year award.In 18 T20Is in 2024, she scored 387 runs at an average of 24.18 and claimed 29 wickets, setting a national record for a single calendar year.
Kerr’s 15 wickets at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup made her the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, marking the biggest haul ever by a bowler at a Women’s T20 World Cup. Throughout the tournament, she consistently dismissed key batters from opposing teams.
In the semi-final against West Indies, she claimed the prized wicket of Deandra Dottin. In the final, she dismissed two of South Africa’s top three batters, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch.Kerr saved her best batting performance for the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She scored 43 runs off 38 deliveries, emerging as the top scorer across both teams.Coming in during the second over, Kerr anchored New Zealand’s innings and departed in the penultimate over, playing a crucial role in guiding the Kiwis to a match-winning total of 158/5.
Following her batting exploits, Kerr showcased her all-round brilliance with an excellent catch and outstanding bowling figures of 3/24. She picked up two wickets in an over, turning the tide in New Zealand’s favour after a strong Powerplay from the Proteas openers.
Kerr’s exceptional all-round performance rightfully earned her the Player of the Match award in the final, capping off a remarkable year of individual excellence.
