Melie Kerr reveals how family helped shape her as a cricketer and person

Melie Kerr had a phenomenal 2024, excelling as an all-rounder as New Zealand won their maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Melie Kerr relishing vital role in New Zealand set-up after record-breaking year

She was the White Ferns' go-to bowler, a gun fielder, and made valuable contributions with the bat. Her performances shone in both ODIs and T20Is, but it was her Player of the Series display at the T20 World Cup that cemented her claim to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.

Reflecting on her superb year, Kerr described it as a memorable one on the field and how claiming the award meant so much to her.

“Yeah, it's obviously very special. I got the phone call about a week or so ago before the award was announced," Kerr revealed.

"You don't really think about it too much because I mean the year of playing in cricket's already happened. I guess if I do look back and reflect on it, the T20 World Cup springs to mind, and how special that was: to be able to perform and yeah, the awards are nice.”

WATCH: Melie Kerr's brilliant all-round performance in the T20 World Cup Final

Kerr concedes that her calm demeanour on the field dates back to the beginning of her cricketing journey and stems from her family.

“I've been like that ever since a young age, ever since I've played cricket. And I think a lot of it comes from my family and, and the messaging we had growing up and, I guess, being raised by a village of people as well," she said.

"I think my dad said to me once when I was really young, 'If I turn up to a ground and you're walking off the field from batting, I don't want to know from your reaction if you got a golden duck or a hundred.”

The White Ferns star added that her family's influence is what has helped her maintain balance in a sport filled with ups and downs. Furthermore, Kerr emphasised that her focus extends beyond her on-field performance, as she strives to lead by example beyond the game of cricket.

“My role models within my family are pretty, pretty level (headed). And yeah, with cricket, it's such a fickle game and it's so up and down," Kerr noted.

"If you run the highs and lows, it's going to probably be a long career. So you've got to take the good with the bad. At the end of the day I just want to be the best I can for the team.

“And that's not just on the field, it's off the field. And also how I carry myself talking about.”