England all-rounder Freya Kemp has revealed she never contemplated retirement or shifting to a batting-only role during her challenging spell with injuries.
Kemp debuted for England at 17, but by 19 she had suffered two stress fractures in her back, one of which sidelined her from competitive bowling for 14 months. She later experienced another ‘stress reaction’ in the same area and has not bowled in an official match since January 2025. Despite this, she has been selected for England’s squad for this summer’s T20 World Cup, where she is expected to play a full role.
“It has been a long few years but I am hopefully nearly out of the other side,” said Kemp, now 21. “It is horrible. It teaches you a lot about yourself and how to overcome hard stuff, and definitely teaches you a lot of resilience.”
Although Kemp—whose last international appearance came during the 2025 Ashes whitewash—will not bowl in the 50-over series against New Zealand starting Sunday, she has been bowling in practice since January. She has worked closely with England fast-bowling coach Chris Liddle, developing new skills which she remains tight-lipped about, and bowled in three of the five intra-squad matches England held in South Africa in March.
It is expected she will bowl against the White Ferns and then India in the T20s that follow this three-match one-day international series, and in the T20 World Cup beginning on 12 June.
“I just really enjoy having an impact on the game as much as I can,” Kemp said. “I love bowling. I don’t think I would ever give that up.”
Kemp, who was carded at number nine on her international debut, believes her injuries have helped her develop as a batter. She scored her first professional century last year and played a full season with Perth Scorchers last winter as a top-order batter. Earlier this year, coach Charlotte Edwards—who has worked with Kemp at Southern Vipers, Hampshire, Southern Brave and now England—namechecked her when discussing the need for bowling all-rounders for the T20 World Cup.
Kemp is also a left-hander, something England have not had consistently in their top order since Lydia Greenway retired in 2016.
“I definitely have improved as a batter,” Kemp said. “I have always spoken to Lottie and she has always helped me a lot around my batting, especially game situations. I would like to think other people think it as well, but I have definitely grown into being an all-rounder.”
Kemp’s fellow left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur has been ruled out of the ODIs against New Zealand after fracturing her foot in a fielding session this week. Gaur, 20, is not part of the World Cup squad and no replacement has been called up to play the White Ferns.
All-rounder Alice Capsey will not feature in the first ODI because of illness. Warwickshire’s 21-year-old left-hander Charis Pavely, who won two caps on the tour of Ireland in 2024, has been drafted in as cover.