Melie spins her way to the top

A budding Wellington leg-spinner is on her way to becoming New Zealand’s answer to Shane Warne.

Melie Kerr of Tawa was one of six promising players named last week in New Zealand Cricket’s emerging talent squad.

Kerr is playing well ahead of her years. She recently turned 14, whereas the rest of the squad are aged 17 to 22.

The youngster played a signifi- cant role in Wellington Blaze’s effort in beating Otago by 10 wickets in the Twenty20 final last Saturday, taking 3-19.

Kerr, who has been in the Blaze squad since November, is the joint top wicket-taker in the national Twenty20 competition, with 10, and the second-top wicket-taker in one-dayers, with 17.

Since joining the Blaze, she has excelled despite playing with cricketers nearly twice her age.

‘‘I just like taking wickets,’’ she said. ‘‘ I get to play with good cricketers.

‘‘The team environment is cool – and we play on nice grounds. They look after me.’’

She is looking forward to the week-long camp in Tauranga next week.

‘‘I’m only 14, but thought I had a chance.

‘‘When I get stronger I want to be a better player and when I’m in my 20s I want to be known as one of the best players.’’

Kerr’s grandfather, Bruce Murray, is a former test opening batsman, and her parents, Jo Murray and Robbie Kerr, are also former representative cricketers.

She could become one of the youngest White Ferns, possibly emulating Blaze captain Sophie Devine, who was selected at 17.

Kerr will also have the opportunity to play for a Northern Districts invitation side to take on the visiting English women’s team on February 7.

‘‘Amelia’s an exciting prospect,’’ Blaze coach Mark Borthwick said. ‘‘She’s a force to be reckoned with, a steely competitor,’’ he said.

The multi- talented Kerr has represented Wellington in three other sports – athletics, football and indoor cricket.

Last year she was named player of the tournament at the New Zealand secondary schools cricket championship, the under- 15 national championship and the under-20 women’s indoor cricket World Cup.

She also became one of the youngest cricketers to score a century at the Basin Reserve, when she scored 113 for Tawa College against Wellington Girls’ College in the final of the Wellington secondary schools premier competition in April.

Jo Murray said her daughter was focused and had done well in her first season with the Blaze.