White Ferns pick 16-year-old Amelia Kerr for World Cup

Amelia Kerr, a sixteen -year-old leg-spinner from New Zealand (NZ) is all set to become the youngest ever White Ferns’ player in the history of the World Cup. She has being picked in the 15-member squad for the tournament which will be played in England from 24 June to 23 July 2017. The teenager will join an experienced squad, as 12 of them were a part of World Twenty20 in India last year.

Sophie Devine, who was out of the squad for the ODI and T20I series against Australia due to a thumb injury as well as Hannah Rowe, who last played in November 2016 make a return to the squad. Offspinner Leigh Kasperek, who underwent surgery in February after suffering multiple fractures to her finger, also finds a return to the squad. Allrounder Anna Peterson and seamer Holly Huddleston will also be playing in their first ever World Cup.

The 16-year-old leggie made her ODI debut against Pakistan in November last year. Since then she has represented New Zealand in 7 ODIs and has 10 wickets to her name. Kerr has also played 2 T20I picking up 5 wickets in the same.

Talking about the squad:

“I’m really happy with the balance of the squad. I think it’s a strong team who are certainly capable of bringing that cup home. It’s really exciting to have Amelia on the squad and she’s proved herself more than ready for the big stage,” team coach Haidee Tiffen said.

New Zealand, will have a pre-tournament camp in Hampshire from June 11 and they will face Sri Lanka in Bristol on June 24 for their first match. The White Ferns’ have won the cup in 2000 and have been runners-up three times, in 1993, 1997 and 2009.

Squad: Suzie Bates (Capt), Katey Martin, Erin Bermingham, Thamsyn Newton, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Rachel Priest, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe and Leigh Kasperek.