New Zealand’s premier batsman Ross Taylor has won the Sir Richard Hadlee medal for the second consecutive season at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards in Auckland this evening.
Tonight’s awards, where two seasons of achievements were recognised, saw the 29-year-old Taylor collect the prestigious Sir Richard Hadlee medal for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. White Ferns captain Suzie Bates matched Taylor’s efforts by winning the women’s international player of the year award for both seasons.
Taylor reached a career high world ranking of three after three consecutive tons during the ANZ Test Series against the West Indies in December, including his highest Test score of 217 not out. He continued his rich vein of form throughout the One Day Internationals against India with two half centuries and two tons.
Taylor now has a total of 4178 Test runs at an average of 46.94 and a total of 11 centuries – placing him third equal with Nathan Astle in New Zealand’s tally of Test tons.
NZC Chief Executive David White says Taylor’s efforts against the West Indies set the BLACKCAPS up for a brilliant summer of cricket.
“Ross showed with those three centuries against the Windies that he is well on the way to being our greatest ever batsman. And essentially it set the tone for the summer which ended brilliantly with Test and one day series victories over one of the best sides in the world – India.”
As well as collecting the overall award this evening, Taylor was named ANZ Test player of the year, ANZ ODI player of the year and picked up the Redpath Cup for First Class batting. Tim Southee claimed the Winsor Cup for First Class bowling after a sublime season headlined by a 10 wicket bag in the Test at Lord’s.
Storming Auckland left armer Mitchell McClenaghan won the ANZ Twenty20 player of the year title for this season, while skipper Brendon McCullum won that gong for the previous season as well as the ODI award. Taylor collected the Test award in 2012-13.
A special presentation was made to McCullum to recognise the 302 not out he scored against India in Wellington – the highest Test score by a BLACKCAP.
This evening’s awards also featured a number of historic cap presentations to players who have reached the milestones of 50 or 100 Test or ODI caps for their country. Recipients included the sport’s greats – Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe and Debbie Hockley.
The awards were screened live on SKY Sport and a replay can be viewed at various times tomorrow. The winners were determined by an independent judging panel headed by Don Neely.
2013-14 awards
Domestic cricketer of the year - men: to be announced after the Ford Trophy concludes
Domestic cricketer of the year - women: Suzie Bates
Redpath Cup (First Class batting): Ross Taylor
Winsor Cup (First Class bowling): Tim Southee
International women’s player of the year: Suzie Bates
ANZ Twenty20 International player of the year: Mitchell McClenaghan
ANZ One Day International player of the year: Ross Taylor
ANZ Test player of the year: Ross Taylor
Sir Richard Hadlee medal (player of the year): Ross Taylor
2012-13 awards
Domestic cricketer of the year - men: Jesse Ryder
Domestic cricketer of the year - women: Suzie Bates
Redpath Cup (First Class batting): Peter Fulton
Winsor Cup (First Class bowling): Tim Southee
International women’s player of the year: Suzie Bates
ANZ Twenty20 International player of the year: Brendon McCullum
ANZ One Day International player of the year: Brendon McCullum
ANZ Test player of the year: Ross Taylor
Sir Richard Hadlee medal (player of the year): Ross Taylor
* Previous NZC awards have been held at various times of the year (the last was in October 2012), but they will now be held on an annual basis at the end of the international home season.
Historic cap presentations made this evening
Mark Burgess 50 Tests
Chris Cairns 50 Tests, 100 ODIs, 200 ODIs
Ewen Chatfield 100 ODIs
Martin Crowe 50 Tests, 100 ODIs
Sir Richard Hadlee 50 Tests, 100 ODIs
Chris Harris 100 ODI, 200 ODIs
Gavin Larsen 100 ODIs
Brendon McCullum 50 Tests, 100 ODIs, 200 ODIs
Craig McMillan 50 Tests, 100 ODIs
Kyle Mills 100 ODIs
Adam Parore 50 Tests, 100 ODIs
Scott Styris 100 ODIs
Ross Taylor 50 Tests, 100 ODIs
Daniel Vettori 50 Tests, 100 Tests, 100 ODIs, 200 ODIs
Nicola Browne 100 matches for NZ
Emily Drumm 100 matches for NZ
Debbie Hockley 100 matches for NZ
Sara McGlashan 100 matches for NZ
Rebecca Rolls 100 matches for NZ
Haidee Tiffen 100 matches for NZ
Aimee Watkins 100 matches for NZ
Development and service awards
Bert Sutcliffe Award (outstanding service to cricket): Alec Astle
Sir Jack Newman award (outstanding service to junior cricket): David Ireland (Onslow Cricket Club, Wellington)
Services to cricket: Richard Yates (Whakatane United Cricket Club)
Gillette Cup young player of the year 2012: Jarred Pike (Hutt Valley High School)
Gillette Cup young player of the year 2013: Aditya Dhadwal (Mount Albert Grammar School)
Best women’s cricket initiative: David Ching (St Cuthberts College, Auckland)
Best junior cricket initiative: Garry Wood (Papatoetoe Cricket Club, Auckland)
Best youth cricket initiative: Tom Basset (Parnell Cricket Club, Auckland)
Best club cricket initiative: Bryan Johnston (North East Valley Cricket Club, Otago)
