Nathan Astle was named The National Bank New Zealand Player of the Year at the New Zealand Cricket awards dinner this evening.

The award is in addition to the International Cricketer of the Year prize of a Hyundai Sonata motor vehicle presented to Astle at the conclusion of the third Test against England yesterday.

Astle also claimed the two men's batting trophies - the Redpath Cup for first-class batting and the Walter Hadlee Trophy for One-Day International batting.

Astle has enjoyed an outstanding year both at home and in Australia. In Test cricket he averaged 80.50 across three Tests in Australia. In the three Tests against England at home he averaged 62.80 at the astounding strike rate of 103.28. [He was unable to capitalise on his superb run of form during the two Tests against Bangladesh after breaking his hand in the first innings of the first Test when he scored five runs.]

During the VB Series in Australia Astle played in six One-Day Internationals averaging 20.33, while in five National Bank One-Day Internationals against England he averaged 73.66.

The highlights of Astle's summer were:

• His 222 in the second innings of the first National Bank Test against England at Jade Stadium. Chasing a world record target of 550 to win Astle smote the fastest double century in the history of the game scoring his 200 off just 153 balls, beating the previous fastest by the margin of 59 balls. For the final wicket Astle and Chris Cairns (with a runner) smashed 118 off 69 balls, while Astle's second hundred came off a remarkable 39 balls. In compiling his total Astle hit 28 fours and 11 sixes and in the process he lost two balls on the roofs of respective stands at Jade Stadium. Astle is the eighth New Zealander to score a Test double-century.
  
  
• In batting through the innings for a score of 122 not out Astle led the CLEAR Black Caps to a One-Day International series victory over England at Dunedin. In the deciding fifth match of the series New Zealand was chasing 219. Astle's unbeaten innings off 150 balls included 12 fours and five sixes, and led the CLEAR Black Caps to a five-wicket win and 3-2 series victory.
  
  
• During the first innings of the final Test against Australia in Perth Astle scored one of four centuries made by the CLEAR Black Caps - Astle, Lou Vincent, Adam Parore, and Stephen Fleming. Astle's innings of 156 was unbeaten and the CLEAR Black Caps totalled 534 to set themselves a chance of victory. It was a fascinating Test match which saw the advantage swing dramatically towards one team then the other and which was eventually drawn when New Zealand was unable to claim Australia's final three wickets on the fifth day.

The Bert Sutcliffe Medal 2002 for outstanding service to New Zealand cricket was awarded to John R. Reid. John R. Reid has made a significant contribution to New Zealand cricket over six decades. As a player he played 58 consecutive Test matches from 1949-1965, scoring 3428 runs including six centuries and averaging 33.28. He also took 85 Test wickets at 33.35. He was New Zealand Cricket Almanack Player of the Year 1951 and Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1959. He captained New Zealand in 34 Tests including our historic first Test victory, over the West Indies in Auckland in 1956. He also captained the Rest of the World in matches against England in 1965.

He served as a playing selector from 1961-1965 and had a second selection stint in the 1970s. He was an International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee during 50 Tests and 98 One-Day Internationals from 1993/94 to this season.

He has written two cricket books - Sword of Willow (1962) and Million Miles of Cricket (1966). He has been awarded an OBE for services to cricket.

The words of cricket media doyen Dick Brittenden in 1983 sum up the man: "As long as cricket survives, John Reid will be remembered. He was one of the true all-rounders, one of the finest entertainers in the game, and he led his country to its first Test victory ... he was magic. He could hit like a kicking mule, keep wickets more than adequately, bowl effectively at fast-medium pace, or send down off-cutters or off-breaks; he was a magnificent fieldsman, with hands like baskets; he was a superb captain, of the kind who leads by example."

Awards

A panel made up of Sir Richard Hadlee, Ian Smith and John F. Reid adjudicated the men's awards and a panel of Debbie Hockley, Lesley Murdoch and John F. Reid, adjudicated the women's awards. The winners were:

Redpath Cup - Nathan Astle
Awarded to the batsman whose performances in men's first-class cricket have been the most meritorious. Statistics include:

Winsor Cup - Chris Drum
Awarded to the bowler whose performances in men's first-class cricket have been the most meritorious. Statistics include:

Walter Hadlee Trophy (Batting) - Nathan Astle
For the most meritorious batting by a New Zealand player in One-Day Internationals.

Walter Hadlee Trophy (Bowling) - Shane Bond
For the most meritorious bowling by a New Zealand player in One-Day Internationals.

Ruth Martin Cup - Emily Drumm
Awarded to the batsman whose performances in women's cricket have been the most meritorious.

Phyl Blackler Cup - Rachel Pullar
Awarded to the bowler whose performances in women's cricket have been the most meritorious.

State Medal
Awarded to the most outstanding player in men's domestic cricket.
Winner: Matt Horne (State Auckland Aces)

State Plate
Awarded to the most outstanding player in women's domestic cricket.
Winner: Anna Corbin (State Wellington Blaze)

© New Zealand Cricket