Brief profile of Jason Kerr by Matthew Reed

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Player:

JID Kerr

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DateLine: 25th October 2005

 

Jason Kerr’s career ending shoulder injury came at a cruel time for him, as his game was showing signs of benefiting from his move from Somerset to Derbyshire. His career began in 1993, and despite his first pair of First-class scalps being David Boon and Michael Slater, he struggled to take wickets at anything much under 40 for most of his career, although playing half his cricket on the flat pitches of Taunton undoubtedly contributed to that. Despite an excellent display of swing bowling bringing a career best 7-23 against Leicestershire in May 1999 (ironically at Taunton), Kerr’s wickets were again expensive, although he was perhaps unfortunate to not be given the new ball more often. His move to Derbyshire brought much of the same as before in one respect – wickets at 40 with the red ball as 1st or 2nd change - although genuine improvements had been made. His improved economy with the white ball, coupled with an ability to hit cleanly and mightily, made him a useful one-day player. The clearest example of this came in a low scoring Norwich Union league match against Northamptonshire in June 2002. Chasing 181 to win, Kerr walked in at 88-7, and just over an hour later had virtually won the match on his own with a brutal, but well judged 65*. In a match of just 32 boundaries, 8 of them belonged to Kerr. However, discretion was also married to his shot making ability, and this succeeded in his First-class average being just a touch under 30 in his first season with Derbyshire. Alas, it was also to be his last. With his injury preventing him from bowling, Kerr made a courageous attempt to stay in the game as a specialist batsman, and some big scores for the 2nd XI made this seem a possibility, although in the end Kerr was forced to admit defeat, although anyone who saw him play will remember a whole hearted bowler and an occasionally very exciting batsman.

 

(October 2005)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)