Latham, Southee bagged top prizes at New Zealand Cricket awards
New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee and opener Tom Latham get the first-class awards while White Ferns, Devon Conway and Katie Gurrey were recognized for their domestic performances in the New Zealand Cricket annual awards. For the first time in seven years, the Black Caps premier batting award has been won by other than captain Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor.
- Southee took the Winsor Cup for first-class bowling after claiming 41 wickets at 22.31 over and Tom Latham scored 875 runs.
“It’s a great honor,” Southee said during the awards which are being presented virtually throughout the week due to the coronavirus pandemic. “When you see the great players who have won the award in the past it’s pretty humbling to see my name on it.”
“The Test win in Colombo was really special as we were able to bounce back from a defeat in Galle in challenging conditions. The way we played our Test cricket at home this summer was especially pleasing. To beat England first up was a great effort and then to perform so well against a very good Indian side was immensely satisfying.”
“It was a brilliant season for the Firebirds,” he said. “We’ve got a great culture in the team and to claim two of the three trophies was a huge effort; especially winning the Plunket Shield after something like 16 years which was really special.
“I didn’t ever expect to win this award two years in a row so it’s certainly something I’ll cherish and it’s a pretty awesome feeling, to be honest. I’ve got to say thank-you to the team management, support staff, and my team-mates – I couldn’t have achieved these awards without their help so I’m really grateful to them.”
Gurrey was named women’s domestic player of the year and also took the domestic batting honour after compiling 992 runs in the one-day and Super Smash tournaments. “It means a lot,” she said. “To win any award at this level is a great honour. It’s one of those awards that you hope you may win one day – and now to have achieved it is an amazing feeling.”
“This season we faced some of the very best bowling attacks in the world and Tom was an absolute rock at the top for us,” said Black Caps coach Gary Stead. “Even in Australia when we were under severe pressure he managed to dig in and deny them for extended periods of time – it’s that courage and determination I really admire.”
Jess Kerr, who made her ODI and T20I debuts earlier this year and was part of the T20 World Cup squad, took the domestic bowling prize after claiming 20 wickets in the Burger King Super Smash at an impressive average of 10 – the most wickets across the men’s and women’s tournaments.
The former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman and commentator (i think you all remember the famous last over commentary in 2019 world cup final between England and New Zealand), Ian Smith was presented with the Bert Sutcliffe medal by New Zealand Cricket for his “outstanding services to cricket”. NZC chairman Greg Barclay presented Smith with the medal in a virtual ceremony. Walter Hadlee, Graham Dowling, Merv Wallace, John Reid, Ewen Chatfield, and Sir Richard Hadlee have also received the medal. Ian Smith made his Test debut at the Gabba against Australia in November 1980 and played 63 Tests for his country.
NZC awards for 2019-20 at a glance:
- Men’s domestic player: Devon Conway (Wellington Firebirds)
- Women’s domestic player: Katie Gurrey (Northern Spirit)
- Redpath Cup (men’s first-class batting): Tom Latham (Canterbury)
- Ruth Martin Cup (women’s domestic batting): Katie Gurrey
- Winsor Cup (men’s first-class bowling): Tim Southee (Northern Districts)
- Phyl Blackler Cup (women’s domestic bowling): Jess Kerr (Wellington Blaze)
