Amelia Kerr

Her one-day international career started in November 2016 against Pakistan, a series in which she collected six wickets across four matches. A bigger statement came against Australia in only her second ODI against that opponent. Kerr took four wickets, among them Meg Lanning, Elyse Villani and Alyssa Healy, and although New Zealand were beaten, the performance put her on the international map. She was then named in the squad for the 2017 World Cup. Some questioned whether the call was premature, but coach Haidee Tiffin rejected that view, praising her exceptional skills and her ability to dismiss world-class batters.

Kerr has made her mark with the bat as well. At 17, playing an ODI against Ireland, she surpassed the highest individual score in women's ODIs, a record Belinda Clarke had held for 21 years, and she also took five wickets in the same match.

Away from the field, Kerr has been open about her own difficulties. In July 2021, aged 21, she withdrew from New Zealand's August 2021 tour of England to put her mental health first, and she spoke publicly about living with depression. She later launched an initiative that provides support to people dealing with mental health problems. While the team was in England, captain Sophie Devine, whom Kerr regards as a role model, mentor and idol, kept in regular contact to see how she was doing. Kerr is also close to Suzie Bates, a bond built on friendship and mutual respect formed through years as teammates.

That relationship played a part at the 2024 T20 World Cup. In the semi-final against West Indies in Sharjah, with New Zealand needing to defend 15 runs in the final over, it was Kerr who suggested that Bates should bowl it. New Zealand had lost 10 T20Is heading into the tournament, yet they went on to beat South Africa in the final in Dubai to claim their first T20 World Cup title.