The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Amelia Kerr of New Zealand as the recipient of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year as the ICC Awards 2024 announcements came to a close.
After a historic 2024 in which she led the White Ferns to their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Kerr becomes the first New Zealander to win the prized trophy, which honors the exceptional female cricket player across all formats of the game during the calendar year.
Kerr scored 387 runs and claimed 29 wickets at an average of 15.55 in T20Is alone, but her greatest moment came during the World Cup campaign, when she broke the record for most wickets in a single edition (15) and put on an incredible solo performance in the final to win the trophy and Player of the Tournament.
Prior to dismissing the dangerous Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch in figures of three for 24 with the ball to thwart the chase and set up a 32-win victory amid wild celebrations, Kerr overcame difficult conditions to score a crucial 43 from 38 balls on the biggest stage against an undefeated South African team.
Although her historic achievements in the shortest format will be the most memorable aspect of her year, Kerr also made an impression in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs), taking 14 wickets, including four-wicket hauls against Australia and India, and scoring 264 runs at an average of 33.00.
In support of her Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year victory on Saturday, the 24-year-old defeats South African captain Wolvaardt, Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu, and Australian Annabel Sutherland to win the prize.
Amelia Kerr, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year:
“Winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year is a great honor. Individual prizes aren’t something I think about very often, but this one is really unique.
“I think all a cricket player wants is to work hard and perform for their teammates, so it’s good to be able to contribute for New Zealand.” Many people have contributed to my success, and I am really appreciative of the support system I am surrounded by.
Later on Tuesday, the much-awaited Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year will be announced, capping up the ICC Awards 2024 announcements.
The ICC Voting Academy and fans across the world cast over 1.5 million votes at icc-cricket.com during the course of a twelve-day voting session from December 30, 2024, to January 10, 2025, to determine the winners in 12 different categories.