Jess Kerr’s Personal Details
Name: Jessica Mackenzie Kerr
Date of Birth: January 18, 1998
Batting style: Right hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right arm Medium
Role: Bowler
Jess has established herself as one of New Zealand’s leading fast-medium bowlers, combining swing, accuracy, and consistency to become a vital part of the White Ferns setup. Representing Wellington Blaze in domestic cricket and New Zealand at the international level, Kerr has steadily risen from a promising debutante to a reliable new-ball bowler for her country.
Cricket runs deep in Kerr’s veins. Her parents, Jo and Robbie Kerr, both represented Wellington at the domestic level, while her grandfather, Bruce Murray, played Test cricket for New Zealand. Adding to the family’s sporting pedigree, her younger sister Melike Kerr has become one of the brightest all-rounders in world cricket, and their cousin, Priscilla Duncan, donned the Football Ferns jersey at international level. With such a lineage, it was almost natural that Jess Kerr would pursue sport at the highest level.
Jess Kerr’s International Career
Kerr’s international breakthrough came in January 2020, when she was named in both New Zealand’s ODI and T20I squads against South Africa. She made her WODI debut in January 2020. Her impact was quickly recognized, and in June 2020, New Zealand Cricket awarded her a central contract for the 2020-21 season.
Kerr’s upward trajectory continued, as she was selected for major global tournaments, including the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on home soil and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, though she was later ruled out of the latter due to injury.
In September 2024, Kerr earned selection for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and a month later was also named in the White Ferns squad for the ODI tour of India, reflecting her status as a key bowler across formats.
Since her debut, Kerr has become a trusted bowler for the White Ferns in pressure situations. From 38 ODI innings, she has already picked up 52 wickets, with her best figures of 4/23 showcasing her ability to dismantle batting line-ups. At the domestic level, she has been equally impactful.
Representing Wellington Blaze, she has been a consistent performer, and while turning out for North Island Women, she produced an impressive spell of 4/41, further underlining her credentials as a strike bowler. Kerr is known for her ability to swing the new ball while maintaining discipline with line and length, qualities that make her a valuable asset in both ODIs and T20Is. Her calm presence complements her younger sister Melie’s attacking flair, creating a formidable sibling duo in the New Zealand setup.
Jess Kerr is entering the prime years of her career, with her knack for breakthroughs and her steady improvement, she is poised to be a central figure in the White Ferns’ bowling attack for years to come.
