Kerr steers to unchartered waters

Melie Kerr will lead the White Ferns into the unknown today.

The 25-year-old all-rounder takes command of the side following Sophie Devine’s decision to step back.

Kerr’s first assignment is three T20s against Zimbabwe in Hamilton, followed by three ODIs in Dunedin.

The two sides have never met, but that is much less daunting than going into the game without Devine and Suzie Bates.

The series shapes as a comfortable one for the White Ferns.

They are the ICC No4 and No5 ranked T20 and ODI team in the world, whereas the tourists are the 16th and 14th-ranked side.

Zimbabwe’s goal will be to try to close the gap, while the White Ferns will be focused on rebuilding as well as winning and winning well.

Devine and Bates have been the heart and soul of the national team for so long. They both made their international debut in 2006 and have clocked more than 750 games across both formats between them.

The White Ferns do not know themselves without a Bates or a Devine in the lineup.

Devine is skipping the T20 series and has retired from ODI cricket, while Bates is injured.

Kerr, who already carries so much load with the bat and the ball, will shoulder even more responsibility.

She is a generational cricketer who is seemingly poised to overhaul most of the significant records. But it is an extra weight, and she will have to bear the load while carefully managing her side through a transition phase.

Kerr appears more than ready for the step up.

"Throughout my whole career I’ve kind of chatted to Suzie about leadership, and during the last few weeks I’ve checked in with Soph a little bit and just asked her for her help with some of the off-field things that you’ve just got to be across," Kerr said.

Former New Zealand and Otago wicketkeeper Katey Martin had been a valuable source of advice as well, she said.

"It is nice to be able to connect with players from the past like Katey and Amy [Satterthwaite]."

Zimbabwe are making their first trip to New Zealand, and many of the names will be fresh to White Ferns. But one name is very familiar.

Former New Zealand and Otago all-rounder Kate Ebrahim has been appointed interim Zimbabwe coach.

She played 31 ODIs and 39 T20s for her country and should have played a lot more. But the selectors ignored her impressive domestic form for years in a decision that was never properly explained.

Questions about why she was inexplicably not contracted by Otago in 2023-24 went unanswered too.

It certainly had nothing to do with her efforts on the field. She was the leading scorer in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield for three consecutive seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23.

Her aggressive and competitive nature served her well in the game. If she can instil those qualities in the Zimbabwean camp, then the White Ferns will have more of a battle than they might expect.

"Often when we play international cricket, we know what every side does," Kerr said.

"We haven’t played Zimbabwe ... and there is limited footage on them, so we are just trying to get all the information we can get. But ultimately it is about going out and performing to your strengths and playing your game, but it is always nice to be as prepared as possible."