Kerr and Mitchell win top NZ Cricket awards

Melie Kerr who is the inaugural winner of the Debbie Hockley Medal.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The White Fern’s Melie Kerr and Black Cap’s Daryl Mitchell have been recognised as the country’s outstanding women’s and men’s cricketers of the year.

Kerr has won the inaugural Debbie Hockley Medal, the award for the leading women’s player while Mitchell has won the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal, as the lead men’s player.

Mitchell, who also won the Redpath Cup for men’s first-class batting, was recognised for a stand-out year particularly at Test level, where he scored four centuries.

He played a leading hand in the Black Caps last ball win against Sri Lanka at Christchurch, and rose to No.8 in the World Test batting rankings.

He ended the year with 913 Test runs at an average of 70.23, including a highest score of 190 against England at Trent Bridge.

In 16 Test innings he scored 50 or more on nine occasions.

Daryl Mitchell celebrates his century against England during day 2 of the 3rd Test at Headingley.
Photo: Allan McKenzie / www.photosport.nz

Kerr, the first player to be awarded the newly-minted Debbie Hockley Medal for the most outstanding women’s cricketer of the year, was also named the Women’s T20 international Player of the Year.

The leg-spinning all-rounder was her team’s second-highest run-scorer with 423 runs at 32.53 (strike-rate 112.20) and equal second-highest wicket-taker with 17 at 20.41, achieved with an economy rate of 5.52.

She also averaged 40.66 with the bat in ODIs.

Kerr’s team-mate Suzie Bates was named the women’s ODI Player of the Year.

Black Caps wicket-keeper Tom Blundell was recognised for his continued improvement in red-ball cricket named Test Player of the Year.

Blundell totalled 849 runs at 60.64 with the bat, including two centuries and six half-centuries.

He was polished behind the stumps, effecting 38 dismissals, including nine stumpings and the scrambling, diving catch down the legside to complete the dismissal of England’s James Anderson, sealing the one-run Test win at the Basin Reserve.

Black Caps test captain Tim Southee, was the winner of the Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling after another strong year in the five-day format, taking 32 Test wickets and increasing his career tally to 370, in the process overtaking Daniel Vettori as New Zealand’s second highest Test wicket-taker to Sir Richard Hadlee.

Test captain Tim Southee has moved to second on New Zealand’s all time test wicket taking list.
Photo: AFP

Glenn Phillips was named the Black Caps T20 international player of the year.

All rounder Michael Bracewell was named the men’s one day international player of the year.

On the domestic front, Kate Anderson was recognised for a break-out year for Canterbury with the bat, winning the Ruth Martin Cup for domestic women’s batting, the women’s T20 Super Smash Player of the Year award, as well as being named the women’s Domestic Player of the Year.

Anderson’s Canterbury team-mate, Gabby Sullivan, was awarded the Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s domestic bowling.

Otago Volts all-rounder Dean Foxcroft dominated the domestic awards for men, his impressive form with bat and ball securing him the men’s Super Smash Player of the Year, and the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year.

Chris Brown was named the Umpire of the Year.

Heath Mills of the NZ Cricket Players Association
Photo: Photosport

The Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Service to Cricket was awarded to the New Zealand Cricket Players Association long-standing chief executive, Heath Mills.

New Zealand Cricket Awards

Debbie Hockley Medal: Melie Kerr

Sir Richard Hadlee Medal: Daryl Mitchell

Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Services to Cricket: Heath Mills, chief executive NZCPA

Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Suzie Bates

Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Michael Bracewell

Women’s T20I Player of the Year: Melie Kerr

Men’s T20I Player of the Year: Glenn Phillips

Test Player of the Year: Tom Blundell

Women’s Domestic Player of the Year: Kate Anderson (Canterbury Magicians)

Men’s Domestic Player of the Year: Dean Foxcroft (Otago Volts)

Women’s Super Smash Player of the Year: Kate Anderson (Canterbury Magicians)

Men’s Dream11 Super Smash Player of the Year: Dean Foxcroft (Otago Volts)

The Redpath Cup for men’s first-class batting: Daryl Mitchell

The Ruth Martin Cup for women’s domestic batting: Kate Anderson (Canterbury Magicians)

The Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling: Tim Southee

The Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s domestic bowling: Gabby Sullivan (Canterbury Magicians)

Umpire of the Year: Chris Brown

-RNZ