Cricket: Martin wins Sir Richard Hadlee Medal

Chris Martin claimed 18 Test wickets for the Black Caps during the award period. Photo / Getty Images

Chris Martin became the first-ever recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards in Auckland last night.

The Sir Richard Hadlee Medal, named after New Zealand's finest cricketer, honours New Zealand Cricket's supreme player of the year.

The 36-year-old fast bowler also lifted the Windsor Cup for First-Class bowling, was a National Bank Test Player of the Year finalist and his devastating spell of Test bowling against India in Ahmedabad earned him a nomination for the Fans' Choice Award. In that match Martin ripped out Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina to help reduce India to 15 for five and went on to pick up the wicket of captain of MS Dhoni later in the day to finish with figures of five for 63.

In other awards Brendon McCullum was named test player of the year, Tim Southee the Twenty20 player of the year and Ross Taylor as the ODI player of the year.

In the award period Martin claimed 18 Test wickets for the Black Caps, 31 wickets for the Auckland Aces in the Plunket Shield and 11 wickets for New Zealand A against Zimbabwe for a total of 60 First-Class victims in the 2010-11 season.

Martin delivered 521.2 overs in First-Class cricket which is the most by a Winsor Cup winner since RJ Hadlee delivered 553.1 in the 1985-86 season.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan said Chris Martin was an extremely deserving winner after performing consistently all season.

"Chris works very hard and has strongly led the Black Caps and Aces bowling attack for this past season and the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal is well deserved," said Vaughan.

"There were a number of individuals who put their hand up for the supreme award but no one can deny that in the past 12 months Chris has been a stand-out performer in international and domestic First-Class cricket.

"Chris is a well-liked sporting personality and will be a popular winner with cricket fans and his peers. It gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate him on his achievement."

New Zealand Cricket Awards

Sir Richard Hadlee Medal
The supreme award presented to the player whose performances in New Zealand Cricket have been the most outstanding.
Winner: Chris Martin

The National Bank Test Player of the Year
Awarded to the most outstanding player in Test cricket
Nominees: Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori
Winner: Brendon McCullum

The National Bank One Day International Player of the Year
Awarded to the most outstanding player in One-Day International cricket
Nominees: Martin Guptill, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor
Winner: Ross Taylor

The National Bank Twenty20 Player of the Year
Awarded to the most outstanding player in Twenty20 International cricket.
Winner: Tim Southee

International Women's Player of the Year
Awarded to the player in women's international cricket have been the most meritorious.
Nominees: Aimee Watkins, Nicola Browne, Sara McGlashan
Winner: Sara McGlashan

Domestic Player of the Year - Women
Awarded to the most outstanding player in women's domestic cricket. [2010 winner: Nicola Browne]
Winner: Sophie Devine

Domestic Player of the Year - Men
Awarded to the most outstanding player in men's domestic cricket. [2010 winner: Michael Bates]
Winner: Rob Nicol

Winsor Cup
Awarded to the bowler whose performances in men's First Class cricket have been the most meritorious. [2010 winner: Daniel Vettori]
Nominees: Brent Arnel, Neil Wagner, Chris Martin
Winner: Chris Martin

Redpath Cup
Awarded to the batsman whose performances in men's First Class cricket have been the most meritorious. [2010 winner: Ross Taylor]
Nominees: Daniel Flynn, Peter Ingram, Brendon McCullum
Winner: Peter Ingram

Gillette Young Player of the Year
Winner: Simon Hickey - King's College

The Bert Sutcliffe Medal
For outstanding services to cricket. [2010 winner: Martin Horton]
Winner: Ces Renwick

Sir Jack Newman Award
Presented to an outstanding junior cricket administrator in New Zealand each year for past and present services to the game. [2010 winner: John Grocott]
Winner: Nick Craig from Auckland

Fans Choice for Outstanding Individual Performance
The Fans' Choice award for Outstanding Individual Performance is voted on by cricket fans across the nation. It recognises individual performances that were stellar, either showcasing the massive skill arsenal of the players themselves or having the power to alter match outcomes. [2010 winner: Brendon McCullum]
Nominees: Neil Wagner, Chris Martin, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Matt Henry
Winner: Neil Wagner

- HERALD ONLINE