Ian Smith honoured by NZC for ‘outstanding services to cricket’

Ian Smith, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper and veteran broadcaster, has been honoured by New Zealand Cricket for his “superb services to cricket”. He was awarded the Bert Sutcliffe Medal on the first working day of NZC’s digital awards ceremony for 2019-20.

Other cricketers to have received this award incorporate Walter Hadlee, Merv Wallace, John Reid, Graham Dowling, Richard Hadlee and Ewen Chatfield. Smith, arguably the most recognisable voice of New Zealand cricket on television sets about the earth, stated he felt “psychological” about becoming a member of this checklist, and focused the award to his wife, Louise.

“I am so grateful,” Smith stated from his property in Hawkes Bay. “It tends to make me very psychological in fact to think about becoming a member of the checklist of people today who have previously gained this award.

“The actively playing factor was the realisation of a dream. I fondly try to remember the occasions holding to Sir Richard Hadlee, watching Martin Crowe bat sides into submission and all the other guys actively playing their aspect as effectively.

“I have beloved every moment of contacting Exam cricket. Brendon [McCullum’s] three hundred will live for good in my thoughts Exam wins at Lord’s, Hobart, Ross Taylor’s 290, the attract at Eden Park with so significantly drama towards England, and of course the Earth Cup final at Lord’s very last yr.

“I dedicate this award to my wife Louise. Anybody who’s been included with touring and cricket will know you have to have a base and Louise has been fantastic the total time.”

“It is really been a wonderful journey and I wouldn’t trade it for a next.”

The highlights of a actively playing profession that spanned sixty three Checks and ninety eight ODIs between 1980 and 1992 bundled a stunning 173 off 136 balls to rescue New Zealand from 131 for 7 towards India in Auckland, and a tally of seven catches in one particular innings towards Sri Lanka. Right after retirement Smith slipped seemingly easily into commentary and has been contacting the action for more than two a long time, like 112 Checks at property.

In the first of many domestic awards that will be announced this week, NZC also named the T20 men’s and women’s gamers of the yr – unsurprisingly equally gamers arrived from Wellington, who gained equally competitions this season. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was Women’s Super Smash Player of the Year, though Devon Conway, the South Africa-born batsman who is on the verge of qualifying to play for New Zealand, gained the Men’s Smash Player of the Year.

Conway topped the run charts in the Super Smash – as effectively as the first-class Plunket Shield and the 50-more than Ford Trophy – in the 2019-20 season. He designed 543 operates in the Super Smash, at an normal of 67.87 and a strike price of a hundred forty five.eighteen. Devine fashioned a third straight T20 title for Wellington ladies, with with 365 operates and 12 wickets.

The next group of domestic award winners will be announced on Wednesday, though the international award winners will be named on Thursday and Friday as aspect of the ongoing digital awards ceremony – a necessity in the time of Covid-19 and social distancing.