Chris Martin's outstanding form has been rewarded with his naming as the Auckland Cricketer of the Year

MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 15 April 2011
Chris Martin's outstanding form for Auckland, especially in the Plunket Shield, has been rewarded with his naming as the Auckland Cricketer of the Year.

Martin took 31 wickets at an average of 22.74 in the Plunket Shield and was in tremendous form as he grabbed three five wicket bags in the second half of the season.

Martin headed off other major award winners Lou Vincent (Men's Batsman of the Year), Holly Huddleston (Women's Batsman of the Year), Paula Gruber (Women's Bowler of the Year), Martin Guptill (Accor International Player of the Year) and Brad Cachopa (Young Player of the Year). Martin also picked up the Men's Bowler of the Year award.

His consistency and ability to bowl aggressively and with pace right throughout a day's play was a real asset for the Aces and was evident in him averaging five wickets a game.

He also picked up 18 international wickets to leave him sitting tantalisingly on 199 test wickets and his international season was probably best summed up by one spell of bowling in the first test in India where he single-handedly reduced the stellar Indian batting line-up to 15/5 with a lethal session of swing bowling.

For more information on any of the major winners and a full list of all the other winners on the night please see below.

Women's Batsman of the Year - Holly Huddleston
It was a season of firsts for Holly as she took on the opening role for the Hearts and managed to notch her first fifty in domestic cricket. That talent and promise has been recognised by New Zealand Cricket with her naming in the 2011 NZ Emerging Players Winter Squad.

Men's Batsman of the Year - Lou Vincent
Lou Vincent in good form is a joy to watch and in the one day competition this year he was in possibly the form of his life. Two scores in excess of 150, another hundred, plus two more fifties on the way to plundering 642 runs at an astonishing 71.33 - stats don't come much better than that. He also contributed heavily to the Aces HRV Cup success, especially in leading an outstanding Aces fielding performance. His performance this season also made him the second highest run-scorer in one day cricket for Auckland.

Women's Bowler of the Year - Paula Gruber
Paula thoroughly deserves this award for her hard work, passion, desire and improved fitness standards alone. She was a consistently outstanding performer in a tough season for the Hearts and stood up every game in both forms to always challenge the opposition batters and frustrate them. Her deception of flight and pace proves she still has what it takes and she remains one of the finest spinners in the country.

Men's Bowler of the Year - Chris Martin

Auckland International Cricketer of the Year - Martin Guptill
After starting the season on the outer Martin Guptill came back strongly to cement his place in the Blackcaps line-up in all forms of the game with a series of strong performances. He scored 875 international runs and finished the season off in style at the World Cup where he was New Zealand's second highest run scorer with 262 runs at an average of 43.66.

Young Cricketer of the Year - Brad Cachopa
A fitting reward for a quality season of cricket from Brad where he was the third highest run scorer for the Aces in the Plunket Shield. The perfect illustration of his rapid improvement and ability to learn was provided in his debut match for the Aces when following a second ball duck after being asked to open the innings, he bounced back to post a patient and composed 66 in the second. The season proved that despite his inexperience he is blessed with a temperament and maturity that mean he should have a long career in front of him.

Umpire of the Year - Phil Jones
Representative Coach of the Year - Paul Strang
Special Award - Natalee Scripps (retirement after 12 years of first class cricket)
Women's Premier Club Cricketer of the Year - Victoria Lind (North-East)
Men's Premier Club Cricket of the Year - Craig Cachopa (Takapuna)
Auckland Cricket Development Awards
Best Junior Cricket Initiative - Parnell Cricket Club
Best Youth Cricket Initiative - St Peters College
Best Club Cricket Initiative - Papatoetoe Cricket Club
Best Women's Cricket Initiative - Parnell Cricket Club
Service to Cricket Award - Tony Reidy