Cricket: Vettori made Honorary Ambassador of Hamilton

Daniel Vettori. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Former New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori has been made an Honorary Ambassador for Hamilton.

Mayor Julie Hardaker bestowed the honour on the city's most famous and celebrated cricketer today at Hamilton City Council.

Vettori, 36, received the Ambassadorship with members of his family and representatives of Northern Districts Cricket Association.

Vettori becomes the third Honorary Ambassador after Archbishop Sir David Moxon, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative at The Holy See, and Warren Gatland, the former Waikato rugby player and current coach of Wales.

"I'm honoured by this gesture from the Hamilton City Council and am grateful for the recognition. I am very proud to receive this Honorary Ambassadorship," Vettori says.

"I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the public of Hamilton for your support over my cricketing career, and a special mention to our supporters and members of Northern Districts Cricket."

Mayor Hardaker congratulated Vettori on his outstanding cricket career, which saw him claim 361 test wickets, second only among New Zealand cricketers, behind Sir Richard Hadlee.

Vettori was just 18 when made his test cricket debut in 1997, against England in Wellington. He went on to become New Zealand's most-capped test cricketer, appearing in 112 test matches for the Black Caps.

He also played 291 One Day Internationals and 34 T20 matches for his country, and announced his retirement from the international game following the final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Melbourne in March.

"Hamilton's sports fans are very proud of Daniel," Mayor Hardaker says. "His achievements have made him one of our city's most famous people, and he has been hugely popular throughout his career - particularly with the home crowd at Seddon Park."

As well as being named in the International Cricket Council's World XIs, Vettori has been the recipient of the organisation's Spirit of Cricket Award on four occasions - once as a member of the New Zealand team (2004), twice as captain of New Zealand (2009, 2010), and once individually (2012).

"Those awards speak to Daniel's excellence on the field, his respectful and admirable approach to the game and those involved, and his overall character," Mayor Hardaker says.

"He is one of Hamilton's finest and we are proud to have him represent Hamilton."