NZ cricketers in awards contention

Black Caps skipper Kanewilliamson and White Ferns batter Suzie Bates have both been shortlisted for the ICC male and female cricketer of the decade awards.

Williamson is in contention for the Sir Garfield Sobers Award along with Australian Steve Smith, India pair Ravichandran Ashwin and Virat Kohli, England captain Joe Root, AB De Villiers of South Africa and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara.

Bates' fellow finalists in the women's category for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award are Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry of Australia, England's Sarah Taylor, Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies and India's Mithali Raj.

Williamson is also up for men's test cricketer of the decade and Bates women's ODI cricketer of the decade, while current White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine is a finalist for women's T20 cricketer of the decade.