Amelia Kerr, Daryl Mitchell win top honours at New Zealand Cricket Awards

Amelia Kerr and Daryl Mitchell. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Amelia Kerr and Daryl Mitchell won top awards at the recently held New Zealand Cricket Awards ceremony which took place on March 23 in Auckland. Kerr bagged the inaugural Debbie Hockley Medal and the ‘Women’s T20I Player of the Year’ honour whereas Mitchell was named the winner of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.

Mitchell is widely recognized as one of New Zealand’s finest cricketers which he has time and again justified with his clinical performances. He also played a vital role in the Black Caps’ last-ball win against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Owing to his excellence in whites, the 31-year-old all-rounder rose to No.8 in the World Test batting rankings.

Mitchell, who had earlier won the Redpath Cup for doing wonders in first-class cricket, ended the previous year with 913 Test runs at an average of 70.23. He scored 50 or more runs on nine occasions in 16 Test innings and finished the year with 190 as his highest score, which came against England.

On the other hand, Kerr became the first player to receive the Debbie Hockley Medal for being the ‘most outstanding women’s cricketer of the year’, as adjudged by the apex cricket control body of New Zealand. With 423 runs, the 22-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder was New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in T20Is in 2022. She was also the second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets.

Bates, Blundell win big at New Zealand Cricket Awards

Former New Zealand women’s team skipper Suzie Bates was named the ‘Women’s ODI Player of the Year’ for 2022. She made significant contributions with the bat against West Indies and Bangladesh, scoring three half-centuries and amassing her highest score of 93 not out.

Kiwi wicket-keeper Tom Blundell was handed the ‘Test Player of the Year’ award. He scored 849 runs in the last year, including two centuries and six half-centuries. He also effected 38 dismissals including nine stumpings. His acrobatics came to the forefront when he claimed a leftward stunner to dismiss England’s James Anderson and seal a one-run victory for New Zealand at the Cello Basin Reserve.

Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell was awarded ‘Men’s ODI Player of the Year’ and Glenn Phillips won the ‘Men’s T20I Player of the Year’ title.

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