Melie Kerr Named New Zealand Women's Cricket Captain

Amelia Kerr has been appointed as the new captain of New Zealand's women's cricket team, taking over from Sophie Devine, who stepped down after the 2025 World Cup. Kerr, 25, will lead the team in all formats and her first assignment will be the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe later this month. She's an accomplished all-rounder, with 3,757 runs and 201 wickets in 172 international matches, and was named Player of the Tournament in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Kerr, 25, has played 84 ODIs and 88 T20Is since making her debut in 2016. She has 2304 ODI runs at an average of 41.14, and 106 wickets at an average of 30.61. In T20Is she's scored 1453 runs at a strike rate of 109.74 and 95 wickets with an economy rate of 6.09. Kerr captained Wellington Blaze to back-to-back Super Smash titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25. "We believe leading the White Ferns can take Melie's game to the next level and know she's ready to step up and lead this team forward. Melie leading this team at this stage of her career ensures we have continuity and stability through the next cycle to 2029." Kerr expressed her gratitude, saying, "Growing up, it was my childhood dream to represent New Zealand, and to now have the opportunity to captain my country is a massive privilege." New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer praised Kerr's leadership skills, stating, "Melie has been an integral member of the squad for many years and deeply understands what it means to be a White Fern and represent New Zealand".