Amelia Kerr’s remarkable run at the New Zealand Cricket awards continued on Thursday night, the White Ferns captain securing the Debbie Hockley Medal for the fourth year in succession. Fast-bowler Jacob Duffy, who broke one of Sir Richard Hadlee’s long-standing records in 2025, took home the men’s equivalent.
Kerr, now firmly settled in full-time leadership, was player of the series in T20 victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa and repeated the feat in the ODI leg against Zimbabwe. Presenting the medal, Debbie Hockley summed up her influence: “Quite simply, we’re talking about a dominant force in every facet of the game, and one of the most influential players in women’s cricket history.”
Duffy’s year was just as eye-catching. With senior quicks on the treatment table, he led the Test attack and claimed 23 wickets in six innings at 15.43, including a marathon 43-over spell to close out the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch. Sir Richard Hadlee, handing over the award that bears his name, observed: “Jacob’s durability, consistency, and ability to take wickets in pressure moments made him the most complete bowling performer of the season.”
The 30-year-old Otago seamer didn’t stop there, also collecting the Test Player of the Year trophy and the Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling — three major gongs in one evening.
Kerr added the Women’s T20I award to her haul, while elder sister Jess picked up Women’s Domestic Player of the Year and Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year. Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert was recognised as the leading men’s T20I performer after 326 runs at 46.57 and a strike-rate topping 166 on New Zealand’s march to the final.
Honours were not confined to current players. Former seamer, administrator and past NZC chief executive Martin Snedden received the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding service. NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon paid tribute: “It’s widely agreed the time, energy, and passion Martin’s provided, as well as the scope of his influence, places him in a very small club of those who have made the greatest single contribution to cricket in New Zealand.”
Two celebrated all-rounders, Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen, were inducted into the Hall of Fame — the first additions since last year’s inaugural “First Eleven”.
Quick recap of the major winners:
• Debbie Hockley Medal: Amelia Kerr
• Sir Richard Hadlee Medal: Jacob Duffy
• Bert Sutcliffe Medal: Martin Snedden
• Test Player of the Year: Jacob Duffy
• Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Daryl Mitchell
• Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Brooke Halliday
• Men’s T20I Player of the Year: Tim Seifert
• Women’s T20I Player of the Year: Amelia Kerr
• Men’s Domestic Player of the Year: Henry Nicholls
• Women’s Domestic Player of the Year: Jess Kerr
• Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year: Katene Clarke
• Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year: Jess Kerr
Analysis
Kerr’s repeat success underlines her status as New Zealand’s most important multi-format cricketer. Her batting at No. 3 continues to mature, and her leg-spin remains a genuine wicket-taking option. For Duffy, the challenge is sustaining success once senior fast bowlers return; his control with the newer Dukes ball was notable and should earn him further opportunities.
With several White Ferns and Black Caps stalwarts approaching the twilight of their careers, this awards list hints at the shape of the next generation. New names on the domestic honours board suggest depth is improving, a necessity with a home World Cup only three summers away.
The evening, though celebratory, retained a reflective edge, marking contributions across playing, coaching and governance — a reminder that New Zealand’s cricketing progress is built on more than runs and wickets alone.
