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Alex Chapman: Melie Kerr’s otherworldly April Fools’ joke
Alex Chapman • April 2nd, 2026 7:00 am
White Ferns captain Melie Kerr | Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
It’s fitting that Melie Kerr’s record-breaking knock in the second One Day International against South Africa should’ve been on April Fools’ Day, because it was, in the most endearing way possible, an absolute joke.
An unbeaten 179 - the second-highest score for the White Ferns in ODIs (she also occupies top spot) - confirmed what has been suggested for a while; she can’t be from this planet.
Anchoring, as any good skipper does, her side to the highest successful chase in the women’s game, it was an innings that many are rightly claiming belongs in the echelon of the great ODI performances.
Cramping, yet still controlled and composed, creating and causing calamity, Kerr barely showed emotion until that final crack towards the bank where she used to sit watching the sport she now dominates.
Melie Kerr | Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
As Kerr’s score rose and the target shrank, the records tumbled, both team and individual, as she went to her fifth ODI ton, and first since October 2023.
We have known what a phenom Melie Kerr is for some time. And her batting ability has been clear since she broke Belinda Clark’s record for the highest score in women’s ODIs, almost eight years ago in Dublin.
But in recent years, Kerr’s batting has gone to another level.
It’s perhaps a product of playing in tournaments around the world, where she’s able to assess different conditions, regularly face quality bowling, and be forced to adapt in various situations.
Just look at how she handled the entire chase in Wellington. Shifting gears whenever she pleased, or as the circumstances of the match demanded, as exemplified by the last seven balls of the chase.
12 needed - take the single, retain the strike.
Four.
Four.
Two.
Whack. Four. Game over.
Melie Kerr walks from the field after Wednesday's stunning win against South Africa | Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
It wasn’t just the Kerr show though. In fact, she couldn’t have done it without her teammates. And she has and will, as per, steer the conversation to acknowledging them. But she can take credit for the confidence she instils in them.
That’s by no means a criticism of any of her predecessors, but it was exhibited with the way Izzy Gaze played - 68 off 48 in a 120-run fifth wicket partnership. And then the enormous grin on Kayley Knight’s face when she came out to bat, on ODI debut with the game on the line. Imagine the belief she must’ve felt to have her captain backing her, regardless of the nerves, experience or situation.
Kerr believes in herself and her ability, but she believes in her teammates just as much.
It’s a freedom and faith that has you searching for a brick wall.
And then there’s the understanding of the situation off the field.
Melie Kerr on being named White Ferns captain | Mondays with McHardy
Post-match, Kerr admitted that she didn’t want to address the bowling and fielding in the innings break, because it was only halfway there and they still had the opportunity with the bat.
After a bowling performance riddled with being too full and dropped catches, you can easily get caught up in feeling frustrated. But those moments of overt and exerted emotion don’t tend to be positive for an environment. They result in heads dropping, negativity seeps in, self-doubt haunts, and it culminates in affecting the on-field performance.
Not under Kerr’s watch.
The 25-year-old currently sits sixth on the White Ferns all-time leading ODI run-scorers list with 2659 runs, with Emily Drumm (2844), and her former coach, Haidee Tiffen (2919) next in her sights.
What perhaps has been missed in the plethora of runs she’s peeled off in recent months, is that Kerr will go top of the White Ferns ODI wicket takers, with two more.
That could come as soon as the decider on Saturday.
More history awaits the White Ferns, and their otherworldly skipper.
No joke.
Melie Kerr will join Ric & Chappy on Sport Nation Mornings today from 9.30am
