The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced awards for both male and female cricketers, acknowl??edging their outstanding performances across all formats in 2024.

ICC Women’s T20I cricketer of the year 2024

On Saturday, the ICC announced New Zealand’s star all-rounder, Amelia Kerr, as the recipient of the prestigious Women’s T20I cricketer of the Year 2024 award. This recognition highlights her remarkable contributions in the shortest format of the game, particularly during a stellar year that included leading New Zealand to their maiden ICC Women’s T20I World Cup triumph. Kerr, who played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s historic ICC Women’s T20I World Cup victory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was chosen over Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast.

Bowling masterclass: Leading the world with the ball

Kerr’s bowling performances in 2024 were nothing short of exceptional. Across 18 matches, she scalped an incredible 29 wickets at an average of 15.55, consistently delivering in crucial moments. Her standout display came against Australia in September 2024 at MacKay???, where she dismantled the formidable Australian lineup with figures of 4/20.

Her dominance carried over into the T20 World Cup, where she became the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, claiming 15 wickets at an astonishing average of 7.33 and an economy rate of just 4.85. This included another four-wicket haul against Australia in the group stage and impactful spells in New Zealand’s victories over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies in t??he semi-final. Kerr’s ability to break partnerships and apply pressure with her accurate bowling proved instrumental in N??ew Zealand’s World Cup success.

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All-round excellence: Contributions with the bat

Kerr’s contributions weren’t limited to her bowling. As a dependable all-rounder, she amassed 387 runs in T20Is during the year, averaging 24.18. Her performances ??with the bat were particularly crucial in high-stakes matches. In the World Cup final against South Africa, she anchored New Zealand’s innings with a composed 43 off 38 balls on a tricky p??itch, helping her team set a competitive target of 158. During the tournament, she accumulated 135 runs in six matches at an average of 27, placing her among the top ten run-scorers. Her ability to rise to the occasion in pressure-filled situations underscored her immense value to the New Zealand side.

The historic T20 World Cup 2024 campaign

Kerr’s all-round brilliance was the cornerstone of New Zealand’s maiden ICC Women’s T20I World Cup triumph. She was instrumental in their opening-round win over India, where her controlled bowling stifled the opposition. Despite a loss to Austra?lia in the group stage, where she picked up four wickets, Kerr helped the team recover with impactful performances in subsequent matches against Sri Lanka and? Pakistan.

In the semi-final against the West Indies, Kerr once again rose to the occasion, delivering with both bat and ball to propel her team to the final. Facing South Africa in Dubai, Kerr delivered a match-winning performance in the final. Apart from her vital knock with the bat, she claimed 3/24 with the ball, dismissing key batters like captain Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch. Her efforts secured a 32-run victory for New Z?ealand, igniting celebration?s in Dubai.

Amelia Kerr’s contributions did not go unnoticed as she was named Player of the Match in the World Cup final and also received the prestigious Player of the Tournament award for her all-round heroics. With her performances, she also became the second New Zealand women’s cricketer to win the ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Year award, following Suzie Bates in 2016.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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