White Ferns spinner Amelia Kerr can't wait to come up against some of her teammates in the Big Bash play-offs this weekend after what she says has been a great competition so far.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 19-year-old Kerr is playing in Australia's T20 league for the first time and she's had immediate success.
In 14 games in the regular season the Wellington leg spinner has grabbed 12 wickets at an average of 25 with an economy rate of 6.18.
Her average of 26 with the bat helped the Brisbane Heat to top spot with ten wins from their 14 games.
This is her first year out of school and she's liking the opportunity to play as a full professional.
Kerr said she had loved playing in Australia, the professionalism of the competition and the ability to develop her game.
"Just the exposure you get over here, most of the cricket each week is equivalent to international standard with the quality of cricketers so I guess that challenge every time you play is just making you better and also teaching you how to play in the high pressure situations which we're going to face in the T20 World Cup."
Kerr, who has played 24 T20 internationals, is happy with the way the Heat have used her during the competition.
"I've enjoyed bowling in the middle of the innings, if I'm going well I can get my consecutive overs in which I like doing as a leg spinner because if you get on a roll and the rhythm feels good. That's where I feel you can bowl your best so I've enjoyed how they've used me."
She said because of the amount of T20 cricket they played now her bowling had adapted to the shortest format.
"With every game I've learnt how to bowl in different scenarios and in different conditions and that's what you train for, so over here you do learn from playing challenging cricket every week."
However she doesn't think it has made her bowl more defensively.
There is a good representation of New Zealanders in the women's Big Bash semifinals in Brisbane this weekend when the Brisbane Heat play the Melbourne Renegades and the Adelaide Strikers play the Perth Scorchers.
Kerr and Maddie Green play for the Heat, Lea Tahuhu is in the Renegades and Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine line up for the Strikers team.
Kerr believes any of the four semi-finalists are capable of lifting the trophy, but likes the balance and depth that her Brisbane side has.
She believes home field advantage will help the defending champion Heat.
"It's been an awesome run so far for the Heat to secure a semi-final spot early on and then grab the home field advantage. It's nice to have a week at home and not have to travel and for her team-mates to have family and friends and a home crowd to play in front of will be an advantage for them."
The two semi-finals are played at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday with the final on Sunday.