New Zealand women’s cricket has entered a new era with the appointment of Amelia Kerr as captain across all formats. Kerr takes the reins from the legendary Sophie Devine, who stepped down from the T20I captaincy and retired from One-Day Internationals following the conclusion of the 2025 World Cup. This transition marks a significant shift for the White Ferns, with Kerr set to lead the side for the first time in the upcoming home ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Amelia Kerr becomes New Zealand's all-format captain
Since her international debut in 2016, Kerr has evolved from a teenage prodigy into one of the world's premier all-rounders. With 84 ODIs and 88 T20Is under her belt, she brings a wealth of elite-level experience to the captaincy. Her elevation is seen as a natural progression for a player who has become the heartbeat of the New Zealand lineup over the last decade.
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Kerr’s statistical contributions underscore her importance to the team’s success. In the ODI arena, she has amassed 2,304 runs at an impressive average of 41.14, while also claiming 106 wickets. Her T20I resume is equally robust, featuring 1,453 runs and 95 wickets maintained at a disciplined economy rate of 6.09. These numbers reflect a player capable of influencing the game in every department.
Beyond her individual talent, Kerr, who plays for Mumbai Indians in WPL, has already proven her mettle as a strategic leader on the domestic circuit. She successfully captained the Wellington Blaze to back-to-back Super Smash titles during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. This track record of consistent team performance and championship success suggests she is well-prepared to guide the national team through its next chapter.
The captaincy doesn't change who I am: Amelia Kerr
Despite the increased responsibility, she emphasized that the role will not alter her core identity or the person she is off the field. Her primary focus remains steadfast, leading the White Ferns toward a new era of success. By maintaining her authentic self while stepping into this leadership position, Kerr aims to foster a winning culture and achieve consistent results for New Zealand on the international stage.
"The captaincy doesn't 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. One of my favourite quotes is: 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He Tngata, He Tngata, He Tngata. We are people first. As a group we look out for each other, we celebrate each other's 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," Kerr said in a statement from New Zealand Cricket.