After leading his side to the World Cup final the Black Caps captain Kane Williamson has been named the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) ODI player of the year.
White Ferns opening batter Suzie Bates was named the women’s ODI player of the year.
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine won the women’s Twenty20 (T20) international player award for the third successive year, while veteran Ross Taylor was named men’s T20 player of the year.
Williamson’s recognition followed a spectacular campaign at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, where his 578 runs at an average of 82, including two centuries, culminated in him being named player of the tournament.
“Kane was simply exceptional at the Cricket World Cup last year,” Black Caps coach Gary Stead said.
“He can be extremely proud of what he achieved at the tournament in the UK. He scored his runs at crucial times, in crucial matches and he set a tempo throughout the tournament that allowed us to play some superb cricket.”
Despite only having one ODI series against South Africa at home this summer, Suzie Bates showed her class scoring 142 runs at an average of 42.
“Suzie has been a world class performer for many years,” White Ferns head coach Bob Carter said.
“She can be proud of another strong season in the ODI colours for the White Ferns.”
Bates scored two half-centuries in the three-match series against South Africa, reinforcing her reputation as one of the best ODI players in the world.
“She paces an ODI innings really well and has the ability to read fields and pre-empt what opposition captains are trying to do and how they are looking to contain or restrict her game.
“Suzie is always hungry for more runs; she will think she let two chances slide to score big hundreds.
“That’s the kind of world class attitude and dedication to her game that she has and why she has been a strong contributor to the White Ferns for so long.”
