Wellington, March 26 (NationPress) At the 2026 New Zealand Cricket Awards held on Thursday, Amelia Kerr, the captain of the New Zealand women's cricket team, and Jacob Duffy, a fast bowler for the men's team, were the standout winners. Amelia achieved an extraordinary fourth consecutive Debbie Hockley Medal, while Duffy received the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.

Amelia guided her team to a third consecutive Super Smash title and led New Zealand’s T20I run-scoring charts with 354 runs at an impressive average of 70, also ranking second in wickets taken. She was further recognized as the Women’s T20I Player of the Year.

“Amelia is a dominant force in every aspect of the game and is among the most influential players in the history of women’s cricket,” remarked Debbie while presenting the medal.

Jacob Duffy, aged 31, had an outstanding season in Tests, securing 25 wickets at an average of 16, which included three five-wicket hauls in just four matches. His remarkable performances against the West Indies showcased his resilience, and he also earned the Test Player of the Year award along with the Winsor Cup for first-class bowling.

“Jacob’s consistency, durability, and knack for taking wickets during critical moments made him the most accomplished bowler of the season,” praised Sir Richard Hadlee.

In other awards, Tim Seifert was honored as the Men’s T20I Player of the Year after amassing 739 runs with a strike rate of 154, while Daryl Mitchell collected the ODI award for scoring 692 runs at an average of 138, achieving the world number one ranking in the format. Brooke Halliday took home the women’s ODI award with 391 runs at an average of 71.

Henry Nicholls dominated the domestic circuit, winning both the Redpath Cup and the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year awards, while Jess Kerr secured three accolades: Women’s Domestic Player of the Year, Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year, and the Phyl Blackler Cup for women's domestic bowling.

Katene Clarke was named Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year, and Kate Anderson won the Ruth Martin Cup for women’s batting. Chris Gaffaney earned the title of Umpire of the Year following another remarkable season on the ICC Elite Panel, which included officiating the Ashes and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final between India and England.

Veteran cricket administrator and former player Martin Snedden was awarded the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for his exceptional contributions to cricket. NZC Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon remarked, “Unquestionably, Martin’s dedication, energy, and influence place him among a select few who have significantly impacted cricket in New Zealand.”

Furthermore, Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and tributes were paid to retiring players Doug Bracewell, Lauren Down, Hayley Jensen, Mikaela Franks, and Felicity Robertson. The event also marked two historic milestones: Suzie Bates became the first woman to participate in 350 international matches, while Sophie Devine celebrated her 300th international game, becoming only the seventh woman to reach this milestone.