Georgia Kerr has been enjoying a big 18 months as she continues to rise up the cricket ranks.
She started playing cricket for Gisborne Cricket Club after she and a few school mates decided they would take their schoolground skills and use them in a regular competition.
She quickly made her mark.
After being part of representative sides since under-14s, Kerr is testing her abilities against the best female cricketers in the state.
Last season, she joined Victoria Premier Cricket side Prahran while still playing in one of the lower grades with the Dragons.
Having made her Premier XI debut last season, she’s spent this season trying to cement her spot in the top Prahran side.
“It’s been really good playing down there,” she said. “I love it down there and the girls are really good … I get to see how they go about things. I’ve got to know them and it’s even better than last season as I’m used to playing with them.
“I’ve got a really good coach, Carl Sandri. I’ve been talking to Carl about what I need to do to play firsts … I’m going to take every opportunity.”
In October last year, Kerr was named emergency for the Victorian under-18 team for a second straight year.
The first time she got a call-up to the team, this time she wasn’t so lucky.
While Kerr said she would have loved to have been part of the state team again, she still sees the experience as a positive one.
“The coaches were amazing and being able to train with them helps enormously,” she said.
She finished her junior representative career by captaining the Central Highlands under-18 girls at last year’s state championships. She was one of five Gisborne girls in the team.
The Highlanders finished third in their pool.
Kerr said the championships were a little different as they signified the end of one part of her cricket journey.
“It was a bit sad,” she said. “The team was really good and all the games were a real team effort. There were a lot of girls who performed well, so overall the depth was really good.
“Some of the Gisborne girls hadn’t played before … it was really good to play with
them.”
For now, Kerr’s focus will be on continuing to playing for Prahran and Gisborne, but her eyes are on the future and hopefully playing for Victoria and beyond.
“It is the plan,” she said. “It’s definitely the dream. I’m going to put in the work and make sure I take all the opportunities I can.”
Earlier this month, she equalled her top score by making 92 not out for Gisborne.
