Vettori named New Zealand Player of the Year

Daniel Vettori has swept New Zealand Cricket's awards for the 2008-09 season, being named the Player of the Year, besides picking up the Winsor Cup for best first-class bowling and the JR Reid best allrounder Trophy.

The major batting awards were taken by newcomers Martin Guptill (best in one-dayers) and Jesse Ryder (best in first-class). Fast bowler Kyle Mills was also rewarded for his efficient one-day bowling which has lifted him to the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings.

In women's cricket, former captain Haidee Tiffen scooped the best batsman award (Ruth Martin Cup) for topping the averages in the World Cup earlier this year. Medium-pacer Kate Pulford, who was named in the World Cup XI and was New Zealand's leading bowler at the World Twenty20 in England, took out the best bowler prize (Phyl Blackler Cup).

The spotlight was on Vettori, though, who had a great year with the bat and ball to reinforce his status as one of the world's leading allrounders and has also captained New Zealand to the final of the last month's ICC Champions Trophy.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan led the tributes to Vettori when the awards were presented in Auckland on Thursday. "Daniel has been an inspiration to his team and to New Zealand cricket fans," Vaughan said. "This year he has also cemented his reputation as one of the most accomplished captains in world cricket currently.

"Daniel has led his side from the front this season. A six-wicket haul against the West Indies, a century against India - then going on later in the year to join the elite club of 300 wickets and 3000 runs - this really has been Daniel's year."

On the domestic front it was Mathew Sinclair's year; the Central Districts captain was the leading run-scorer in the State Championship and State Shield, averaging more than 75 in both and second in the State Twenty20 run charts. He capped the season by taking out the inaugural Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in April.