Cricket: Richardson honored as player of the year

New Zealand test cricket opener Mark Richardson, a qualified pilot, was flying high last night when he was hailed New Zealand's player of the year.

Richardson, 29, re-invented himself during the past decade from spin bowler to opening batsman, and was a stunning success in the test and first-class arena by scoring 2672 runs at 66.8 in the past year.

He headed international cricketer of the year Craig McMillan and World Cup women's captain Emily Drumm for the title, which was presented at an awards function in Christchurch.

In other awards, Daryl Tuffey won the Winsor Cup for the best first-class bowler of the season, Grant Bradburn was awarded the State Insurance Medal for the most outstanding player in men's domestic cricket and Otago's Rachel Pullar took hoome the women's equivalent, the State Insurance Plate.