New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee and women's team captain Sophie Devine were rewarded with top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) annual awards on Wednesday (April 8). Southee won the Players’ Cap award while Devine clinched the CPA Players’ award.
With the world put on standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards were presented via a virtual medium.
Devine bagged the CPA Players' award for the third time, equalling men’s captain Kane Williamson’s record. Southee, on the other hand, joined Williamson and Taylor as multiple-time winners of the Players’ Cap award.
"It is a real honour to be able to present this award to such a deserving recipient in Sophie," said NZCPA Board member and former Kiwi women's cricketer Rebecca Rolls, in a media release as she announced the CPA Players' award recipient.
"Being recognised by your peers is the ultimate accolade for any player and this award is particularly relevant as it allows players to recognise statistical outputs alongside those intangible aspects that contribute toward the team’s performance," she added.
Former Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori hailed Southee, recognising how difficult it is to win the Players’ Cap, through a video message.
"Earning the right to receive The Players’ Cap is difficult - it requires consistency of form, fitness, perseverance and above all else, meaningful contributions to the team on a regular basis, whatever the format," he said. "Tim has had a remarkable year and is a truly deserving recipient of this award."
