Cricket: Vettori picks up three awards

The gaping hole left in the test squad by Daniel Vettori's back injury was further highlighted last night when he won the major awards at New Zealand Cricket's annual prizegiving gala.

Ruled out of the first test against Sri Lanka only hours earlier, the left-arm spinner was honoured as Player of the Year after some outstanding performances in the test and one-day format, particularly against Australia.

Vettori, this week ranked the fifth-best allrounder in world cricket, snared 42 test wickets at 27.78 over the past year and was the ODI side's most influential bowler, taking 22 wickets at 20.63 - including a five-wicket bag in the NatWest final against the West Indies.

He also won the Winsor Cup for the most meritorious bowling in New Zealand first-class cricket and the Walter Hadlee bowling trophy, for the most outstanding effort in ODIs over the past year.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden last night acknowledged Vettori's form with bat and ball, and also made the point that the decision to appoint him as the New Zealand captain in Bangladesh appeared to have paid dividends.

"His bowling has been superb, he has also continued to show real ability with the bat, and has emerged as a leader on and off the field," he said.

The other multiple winner last night was top-order batsman Hamish Marshall, whose progress this year netted him the Redpath Cup for the best batting performance in first-class cricket, and the Walter Hadlee batting award for excellence in the ODI arena.

Improving Black Cap batsman Craig Cumming won the State Medal for the most outstanding player in the domestic competitions.

In women's cricket, the State Plate for the most outstanding domestic player went to Nic Browne, Rebecca Steele won the Phyl Blackler Cup for her year-long efforts with the ball, and Haidee Tiffen the Ruth Martin Cup for her performance with the bat.

The most sentimental moment of the night arrived with the naming of former 49er Merv Wallace as the winner of the Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding services to the game.

Wallace, 88, played 47 matches for Auckland between 1933-34 and 1956-57, and 13 tests over 18 years, ending as captain against the 1952-53 South Africans.

He was also the national team's first official coach, filling the role against the 1956 West Indians, when New Zealand - after 26 years of hard labour - posted their maiden win in the fourth test at Eden Park.

Snedden said Wallace's legacy to the game in New Zealand had been invaluable.

"Merv's influence on cricket in New Zealand over a long period of time was immense and positive, as is evidenced by the extremely high regard in which he is held by those who played with him, and those who came under his tuition as a coach."