New Zealand Cricket has revealed the first batch of Hall of Fame inductees — recognising contributions to the sport from some of the best to ever represent New Zealand.
The first eleven players selected includes one of the most successful women in world cup history, the first man to take 400 Test wickets and the player with the fastest Test century.
The Hall of Fame was officially opened last night at the New Zealand Cricket Museum in Wellington by NZC President Lesley Murdoch.
The inaugural NZC Hall of Fame features the induction of 11 foundation members whose playing careers span an era from 1947 to 2016.
The "First Eleven" — Bert Sutcliffe, John Reid, Jackie Lord, Trish McKelvey, Glenn Turner, Sir Richard Hadlee, Debbie Hockley, Martin Crowe, Emily Drumm, Daniel Vettori, and Brendon McCullum — have been honoured with an exhibit featuring near life-size portraits with video and biographical content displayed on a digital touchscreen.
The rules required inductees to have played for New Zealand and to have been retired for at least five years, with criteria weighted in favour of performance, leadership and influence.
A shortlist was researched and compiled by cricket historian, statistician and author Francis Payne, with New Zealand women's cricket historian and author, Trevor Auger, Murdoch, and the NZCPA.
Payne, — the long-time co-author of the annual New Zealand Cricket Almanack, as well as various other publications including Men in White — said the beauty of the Hall of Fame concept was that it was a subjective exercise.
"The first intake is always the most straight-forward as it includes some players who essentially pick themselves, they stand out that much," said Payne.
"However, even in this phase there’ll still be discussions and debates about who should or should not be there — and that’s almost the point of the exercise, to keep the stories of New Zealand’s greatest players alive."
Payne, also NZC’s official historian, said the Hall of Fame was very much a "living tribute" to players and new players will be added each year.
The foundation inductees will be celebrated on the field during the lunch break on day one of the second Test between the Black Caps and England at the Basin Reserve.
The New Zealand Cricket Museum, located in the ground's Old Pavilion Stand, will also be open throughout the Test.
NZC Hall of Fame inductees:
Bert Sutcliffe, John Reid, Jackie Lord, Trish McKelvey, Glenn Turner, Sir Richard Hadlee, Debbie Hockley, Martin Crowe, Emily Drumm, Daniel Vettori, and Brendon McCullum.
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