Robert "Robbie" Byers Kerr is an Australian former cricketer who played in 2 Tests and 4 ODIs in 1985. He represented Queensland in four Sheffield Shield finals.
Career
Early career
Kerr played for Queensland Colts in 1980-81 scoring 82 not out against Tasmania.
1981-82
Kerr made his first class debut in November 1981 against WA scoring 4. In his third first class game, against South Australia, he scored 103. He made 66 against South Australia and 158 and 101 in a game against WA. Kerr scored 613 first class runs over the 81-82 summer at an average of 41.15. He formed a notable opening combination with Kepler Wessels. Kerr also impressed in one day cricket, scoring 50 off 68 balls against WA in a man of the match performance. He played in the McDonald's Cup final, only scoring 1 in a game Queensland won.
1982-83
Kerr started the following summer with 65 against the touring English, 112 against Tasmania. He had a form slump but then made 102 against the touring New Zealanders, taking part in a partnership of 232 with Wessels. He also scored 72 against NSW and 132 against Victoria. He scored 876 first class runs at 39.81. Kerr was picked on a tour to Zimbabwe with a Young Australia side captained by Dirk Wellham and including David Boon and Wayne Phillips. He played two first class games and scored 37 runs at an average of 12.33. He scored 58 in a one-day game.
1983-84
Kerr's highlights for the following summer included 51 against Pakistan, 75 against Tasmania, 103 against WA, and 136 against South Australia, which saw him being discussed as a possibility for the West Indies tour. He also made 166 against Victoria. Kerr was not picked in the West Indies touring squad but this allowed him to play in the Sheffield Shield final, where he scored 56 and 4, in a game Queensland lost. Kerr scored 866 first class runs at 39.39 that summer.
Kerr made 50 and 92 in a McDonald's Cup game, and 106 against Victoria in a Shield match. He scored 87 for Queensland in a one-day game against Sri Lanka. Australia were struggling against the West Indies and some writers thought that Kerr might be selected over Wessels for the second test. This did not happen and Wessels rediscovered his form. When Graeme Wood had injury concerns before the fourth test, Kerr was placed on standby for him. Wood ended up playing. Kerr's form was not outstanding over the middle part of the summer but made 60 and 201 against Tasmania. He made 9 and 0 in the Sheffield Shield final, which Queensland lost to NSW. Kerr made 623 first class runs in 1984-85 at 44.50.
ODI Player
Kerr scored 201 against Tasmania. This saw him added to the Australian one day squad for the second World Series Cup final, against the West Indies. Kerr was 12th man in the second game but made his debut in the third, picked over Kim Hughes. Batting at number three, Kerr scored 4 in an Australian defeat. Kerr kept his spot in the Australian ODI side for a short series that followed: a World Championship of Cricket. Playing against England, Kerr opened the batting with Kepler Wessels and scored 87 not out off 126 balls, chasing down England's total. Kerr won the man of the match award. Against Pakistan he made 2 and India he made 4. Kerr was selected for the Australian tour of the UAE, where the team played a one-day tournament. However he did not play any internationals and never played one day cricket for Australia again. Kerr also missed selection for the 1985 Ashes. However he was appointed captain of an Australian Under-25 side that toured Zimbabwe in October 1985. He made 103 first class runs at 25.75 including a top score of 68.
Kerr started the following season slowly until he made 80 against South Australia. Kerr was selected in the Australian side for the second test against the touring New Zealanders, replacing Andrew Hilditch who had been dropped. He scored 7 off 7 balls in the first innings and 7 off 55 balls in the second. Australia won the game by four wickets, due to superior spin bowling. Kerr kept his spot for the third test. He scored 17 and 0 in a game which Australia lost. He was kept his spot in the squad for the next test, against India. However he was made 12th man in favour of Geoff Marsh. David Boon and Marsh opened the batting together and were a success. Kerr was not picked in any one day internationals that summer. He scored 84 and 50 against NSW, 102 against NSW and played in his third Sheffield Shield final, scoring 64 and 34. Queensland drew the game and lost the Shield.. He scored 609 first class runs that summer at 32.05.
1986-87
Kerr scored 676 runs at 39.76. Highlights included 92 in a McDonald's Cup game against SA, 95 against the touring English side, 88 against Tasmania, 76 against SA in a Shield game, 82 against NSW, and 140 against Tasmania. In December 1986 Kerr was convicted of drink driving. Nonetheless Kerr was made acting captain of Queensland in Alan Border's absence.
1987-88
Kerr made 793 runs at 39.65, including 91 against SA, 107 against NSW, 102 against WA 62 and 96 against Tasmania. He also played in another Sheffield Shield final scoring 47 and 2 against WA.
1988-89
In August 1988 Kerr suffered whiplash in a car accident. He had a poor season making 153 runs at 25.5, with a top score of 69.
1989-90
Kerr made 360 runs at 27.69 including 86 in one game and 123 in another. It was his last season of first class cricket.
