The 25-year-old, who has already played 172 international games, will commence her leadership journey through the upcoming series against Zimbabwe starting later this month. Amelia has previously stood in as New Zealand\u2019s captain in limited matches but now takes on the role in a full-time capacity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cGrowing up it was my childhood dream to represent New Zealand and to now have the opportunity to captain my country is a massive privilege. I\u2019m really excited by the growth, the talent and the dedication of this group and the potential of what we can achieve and where we can go together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOne of my favourite quotes is: \u2018He aha te mea nui o te ao? He T\u0101ngata, He T\u0101ngata, He T\u0101ngata. We are people first. As a group we look out for each other, we celebrate each other\u2019s success and we represent our people. Encouraging others and building belief around us so we can all be the best we can be both as people and as cricketers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI am following an exceptional group of leaders who have captained the White Ferns before me, so I don\u2019t take the responsibility lightly. I have so much love for this group and so much passion for representing Aotearoa. The captaincy doesn\u2019t change who I am. I am still the same person and will give everything I can to lead this group and hopefully bring our country success,\u201d said Amelia in a statement by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Under her, New Zealand will embark on an important three-year period which includes defending their Women\u2019s T20 World Cup in England later this year, the ICC T20 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next year, and the LA Olympics and T20 World Cup in 2028.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since making her debut for New Zealand at the age of 16 in 2016, Amelia has amassed 3,757 runs and claimed 201 wickets across formats, this placing her third on the White Ferns\u2019 all-time wicket-taking list and fourth among run-scorers. Her credentials were underlined during the 2024 ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE, where she was named Player of the Tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her performances that year also earned her the ICC Women\u2019s Player of the Year award, making her the first New Zealander to win the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy. head coach Ben Sawyer said Kerr was an excellent fit for the role.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMelie 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. She\u2019s an outstanding leader not only through her performances on the field, but also in the respect she has from the playing group off it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cShe has a sound understanding of the game and has strong leadership experience from the games she has captained the White Ferns and her time leading the Wellington Blaze over the past three years. We believe leading the White Ferns can take Melie\u2019s game to the next level and know she\u2019s ready to step up and lead this team forward.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMelie leading this team at this stage of her career ensures we have continuity and stability through the next cycle to 2029. Melie possesses all the qualities of a strong leader at such a young age and we are looking forward to supporting her in her development as a leader,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Liz Green, Head of Women\u2019s High Performance Development at NZC, said Amelia\u2019s passion for the team and her people-first approach made her an ideal fit for the leadership role. \u201cMelie is hugely passionate about representing New Zealand and is a great role model for the group and fans of the White Ferns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMelie leading this team at this stage of her career ensures we have continuity and stability through the next cycle to 2029. Melie possesses all the qualities of a strong leader at such a young age and we are looking forward to supporting her in her development as a leader,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand\u2019s squads for the T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe will be named on Friday. The three-match T20I series begins at Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 25. <\/p>\r\n\r\n