19 March - Auckland - New Zealand player Amelia Kerr pre-match press conference
Reporter: I guess just describe how this feeling in the camp has been yesterday and training today?
Amelia: Yeah it was good to get to Auckland yesterday and had a bit of a run around Eden Park and we know where we're at as a group and what we have to do so I think with the World Cup and World Cup cricket and tournaments like this you just had to bounce back and look forward to the next game which is what we're doing.
Reporter: England sort of like yourselves probably haven't performed as I'd like to the World Cup but do you think they'll take confidence given that last year those couple of series they look to have an opening for us?
Amelia: I don't necessarily know too much how they'll be thinking and they're probably disappointed with how they started their World Cup but we know they're a quality side and I don't really think that what's happened in the past matters too much when it comes to a one off game and we know they're a good side but we also know what we're capable of and we have not played our best cricket yet.
Reporter: What do you take out of I guess, obviously things haven’t gone you guy's way, but being in those circumstances where it's all on the line?
Amelia: Yeah, I guess it's exciting when sports all on the line it's when there's a bit of pressure and it's a must win game. So that's one of those for us and, and you know, we've been on the losing side of two close games which could have could have gone our way another day. So we know we’re a good side and we know we've got things to improve on and must win games are exciting and it's a good chance to step up.
Reporter: Obviously with what's at stake how much you guys praying that the weather will be playable tomorrow?
Amelia: Yeah, definitely. hoping we can get the full game in tomorrow and the rain will keep away and I've seen Aussie and India have started theirs after looking not so good this morning. So obviously, we can't control the weather. But yeah, we'll be hoping we can get a game in.
Reporter: Obviously you're in a team that's filled with leaders and players with plenty of experience. But you you've been around the White Fins environment for quite a long time now. Do you find yourself I guess stepping up and finding your voice in these situations with teams are under pressure?
Amelia: You know, we do have fantastic leaders in our group and a lot of experienced players and so yeah, I guess for me going out there it's just what can I do that's going to help this team with bat, ball and in the field and with the group as well. I just like to bring energy in the field and and build belief and encourage others and I know how good we are as a side. So building that belief around the group I think is really important. And yeah, we've got great leaders which will help us in these big matches,
Reporter: Obviously as an all-rounder you'd be looking at the England side in terms of their best batters and bowlers. Who are the players that stand out for you from them?
Amelia: Yeah they've got a few world class cricketers England, obviously. Nat Sciver is one of the best all-rounders in the game and Katherine Brunt’s a very experienced campaigner and then you've got Heather Knight and Sophie who's a real keeper there with the ball. So they do have good players, but just like every team does. And I think if we just worry about what we can do well and how we want to go about our business is the most important thing.
Reporter: And just lastly, for me, before the World Cup, this game was sort of marketed as they wanted it to be the highest attended women's cricket game in history. Do you think playing at Eden park is there that added layer of all the New Zealand sporting history and stuff that's gone before Do you think there'll be an extra little bit of atmosphere in regards to that?
Amelia: Yeah, hopefully we can get a few people on to the game tomorrow and then create a really good atmosphere. I think the games we've had in Hamilton and Wellington have been awesome. The crowds been right behind us. So hopefully it will be the same for us tomorrow, here in Auckland. And yeah, there's been a lot of good sporting moments here at Eden Park, so hopefully we can add to that tomorrow.
Reporter: I really just thought of asked you, putting aside results and stuff what it's been like to play at a World Cup in your home backyard, like has it been great to have the support or do you sort of lock it out because of the pressure or how's it been?
Amelia: It's been awesome, I think. Yeah. To play in the home World Cup is pretty special and it doesn't come around often and although during COVID times that is a little bit different. But it's been nice having your family and friends and the crowd supporting and just being familiar with the grounds and where we're staying and all of that, so it has been nice and I think it feels like the whole nations kind of been behind us and there's a lot of interest in all the games and women's cricket and I think that's really exciting and the amount of close games and the standard. It's just making people a whole lot more interested in the game.
Reporter: Yeah has been a spectacle as New Zealand's been looking great, pitches are great. Atmosphere is great, are you a kiwi?
Amelia: Yeah, definitely. Absolutely love representing New Zealand, and we live in a beautiful country. So it's awesome that people from around the world and then the other teams get to experience our culture.
Reporter: I think we all sort of thought that COVID might be a bit active during this tournament and obviously Ash Gardener got it before the tournament but nobody else has. Are you surprised that nobody else has got Covid?
Amelia: I guess a little bit I think we've done pretty well to keep COVID out of it. But I think the way people have gone about their business and living under the strict guidelines and keeping safe has been awesome and the way we've been looked after as well, the transport and all of that to keep us safe. It definitely makes a huge difference. And to have this tournament go and run pretty smoothly has been awesome with COVID increasing around the country.
Reporter: Like do you guys almost treat it from here as the playoffs begin now, or have you guys what have you talked about in terms of drawing inspiration for the I guess do and die here?
Amelia: Yeah, we know it’s a must win game tomorrow and I guess every game you play, you go out there and your goal is to win so that will be the same again tomorrow and we'll do our best but I think it's not getting too focused on the results and once we're on the field it's controlling what we can control when just performing it and playing our roles well and we know that if we can do that then we'll put the team in a good place and yeah, it's exciting though, essentially it is like a quarterfinal. So yeah, we're looking forward to it and yeah, World Cup spring fresher and I think we're excited for it.
Reporter: With Kate Cross yesterday on the top of the stand was there any banter between you two about tomorrow and what's at stake?
Amelia: No banter about the game but I was very close to her holding the World Cup trophy and they asked me if I wanted to and I said no I don't think you're allowed to touch it unless you've won it, so because I think it's bad luck otherwise, but that was all the chat we had up there and yeah, hopefully we can go well tomorrow.
Reporter: Any texts back and forth with any other players from the England team or anything like that?
Amelia: Nothing like that at all.
Reporter: And I suppose when you look at the cup, you're so close to the cup. You know what's on the line for what's ahead. What kind of motivation does that stir inside you?
Amelia: We know obviously, probably haven't really thought about it too much. It's just about the game in front of us and knowing what we have to do and we just want to give ourselves the best possible chance to be able to get to that - to get to the playoff stages and so we know that tomorrow we just have to go about our business and play some good cricket and then we give ourselves a chance.
Reporter: What do you make of Eden Park? You guys haven’t been there that much, have you played on the ground before and what do you make of the dimensions and all that sort of stuff that you've always heard talks about?
Amelia: Yeah, I've played there before against India in a T20 where Hannah Rowe hit the winning runs off the last over which was a pretty epic game and yeah, so we obviously haven't played there much but there's been some great sporting moments there. And there's a bit of talk about the boundaries, but I think the size of the stadium makes the boundaries look smaller than what they actually are. But yeah, it looks like it should be a good wicket and hopefully we get on tomorrow and the rain keeps away for us.