A solid opening batsman, with a technique based on a sound defence and scoring shots off his pads, he began to play in the Hawke Cup for Wanganui aged 15, helping his side to win the competition in his second year.

He was dominant in first class cricket in his native country, and made his highest first-class score the same year, reaching 196 playing for Canterbury against Wellington.

Kerr scored 146 not out and 71 for Canterbury against Errol Holmes's MCC tourists in 1935–36 and then posted 105 not out at Wellington and 132 at Christchurch in the "unofficial Tests", and was recognised as the season's best batsman, winning the Redpath Cup.

In the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours, Kerr was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for valuable services to cricket.

[4] In the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.