Auckland: New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee and women's team captain Sophie Devine won the top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) awards. Southee won the Players' Cap award while Devine won the CPA Players' award.
The presentation was done via a virtual medium amid the coronavirus pandemic that has brought cricket to a standstill.
NZCPA board member and former player Rebecca Rolls announced the awards, stating that being recognised by your peers is the ‘ultimate accolade for any player’.
"Being recognised by your peers is the ultimate accolade for any player and this award is particularly relevant as it allows players to recognise statistical outputs alongside those intangible aspects that contribute toward the team's performance," New Zealand Cricket's official website quoted Rolls as saying.
The third CPA Players’ Award bestowed on Devine by her teammates places her alongside Kane Williamson’s three-peat (2015-2017) and is a fitting reflection of the contribution Devine has made to the White Ferns team in what has been a remarkable few years for one of the world’s best players.
Southee headed off several players in a very close voting result before ultimately securing his second The Players’ Cap with a compelling series against India at home. Southee also joins Williamson and Taylor as multiple-time winners of the Players' Cap award.
Former New Zealand captain Danier Vettori presented the cap to Southee, stated how difficult it is to win the Players' Cap. "Earning the right to receive The Players' Cap is difficult - it requires consistency of form, fitness, perseverance and above all else, meaningful contributions to the team on a regular basis, whatever the format. Tim has had a remarkable year and is a truly deserving recipient of this award," Vettori said.
