Major honours to Williamson, Kerr at awards ceremony
BLACK Caps captain Kane Williamson and White Ferns teenage sensation Amelia Kerr headlined the honours at the New Zealand Cricket awards in Auckland last night.
Williamson claimed the Sir Richard Hadlee medal for men’s player of the year and was awarded best test player as well as the Redpath Cup for firstclass batting.
The New Zealand captain led the Black Caps admirably in all three formats and particularly shone with the bat in the test arena in which he scored 801 runs over the season at an average of 89.
Kerr was named women’s oneday international player of the year and took home the Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s domestic bowling, along with the Gillette Venus Cup as the secondary schools female player of the year.
The 18yearold amassed 415 ODI runs over the judging period at an average of 59, including a world record 232 not out against Ireland, a match in which she also claimed five for 17 in an overall tally of 19 wickets for the season.
The familiar faces of Ross Taylor (ODI) and Sophie Devine (twenty20) were also honoured for their impressive limitedovers seasons, while Trent Boult was awarded the Winsor Cup for firstclass bowling and Colin Munro was named international men’s T20 player of the year.
Taylor scored 759 ODI runs at an average of 84, while Boult led from the front with the red ball,
snaring 35 firstclass wickets at an average of 24.
Natalie Dodd’s switch to the Central Hinds this season resulted in her landing the women’s domestic player of the year award, along with the Ruth Martin Cup for women’s domestic batting.
Dodd led her side to victory in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield scoring 652 runs at an impressive average of 108, and was also prolific behind the stumps claiming 22 dismissals for the domestic season.
Wellington lefthander Devon Conway had a breakout season in the capital and was a clear winner of the men’s domestic player of the year title.
The 27yearold was the standout batsman in the Plunket Shield scoring 659 runs at an average of 82.
He also led all runscorers in the men’s Super Smash and played a major role in his side’s victorious Ford Trophy campaign.
Tom Bruce was named the Super Smash men’s player of the year for leading Central Districts to the T20 men’s title, while Canterbury Magicians allrounder Frankie Mackay claimed the women’s award.
Wellington stalwart Ewen Chatfield was awarded the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding services to cricket to cap off his 51st consecutive and final season of club cricket and honour his contribution to the game.
Recently retired internationals Liz Perry, Michael Papps, Brent Arnell, Luke Woodcock and Lucy Doolan were all honoured on stage.