A landmark moment in the history of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) unfolded as the New Zealand Cricket Hall of Fame was officially inaugurated at the New Zealand Cricket Museum in Wellington.
In collaboration with the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) and the New Zealand Cricket Museum, the Hall of Fame aims to honour the nation’s most iconic cricketers, fostering a deeper sense of connection and pride among players and fans alike.
The Hall of Fame was opened by Lesley Murdoch, former White Fern and current NZC President, during a special ceremony. The inaugural induction celebrates a total of eleven cricketing legends, across gender, whose stellar careers span nearly seven decades, from 1947 to 2016.
The Hall of Fame is governed by a set of rules ensuring only the most deserving make it to this prestigious list. To qualify, players must have represented New Zealand and been retired for at least five years. Beyond this, the selection heavily emphasises performance, leadership, and influence, with the unofficial guideline that inductees should have been world-class talents in their prime, capable of selection in a hypothetical World XI.
The inaugural shortlist was compiled by renowned cricket historian, statistician, and author Francis Payne, with insights from women’s cricket historian and author Trevor Auger, NZCPA, and Lesley Murdoch herself.
“The first intake is always the most straightforward as it includes some players who essentially pick themselves,” Payne remarked. “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.”
Murdoch added, “Now we have the project off the ground and underway, the plan is to incorporate a nominations panel and a voting academy, dominated by former players, who will vote to choose additional inductees on an annual basis.”
Among the first inductees are four trailblazing women whose remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on New Zealand cricket.
Jackie Lord
A leg-spin sensation, Lord was instrumental in New Zealand’s maiden Test victory against Australia in Melbourne (1972) and its first Test series win in South Africa. Making her debut at just 18 during the 1966 tour of England, she dominated the record books with 55 Test wickets—20 more than any other New Zealand bowler. Lord is the only player to take ten wickets in a Test match for New Zealand and boasts four five-wicket hauls, a feat unmatched in the nation’s history.
Trish McKelvey
McKelvey captained New Zealand in all 15 of her Test matches and an equal number of ODIs. She led the team to its historic first Test win and series victory. McKelvey became New Zealand’s first woman Test centurion, scoring an unbeaten 155 against England at the Basin Reserve in 1968-69. Her debut tour in 1966 saw her facing a formidable England side led by Rachael Heyhoe Flint, yet McKelvey’s leadership and resilience left New Zealand unbeaten in Tests on that tour.
Debbie Hockley
Widely regarded as one of the game’s finest, Hockley amassed 1301 Test runs at a staggering average of 52.04, including four centuries. She was the first woman to surpass 4000 ODI runs (4064 ODI runs) and the first to play 100 ODIs. Her World Cup legacy is unparalleled, with 1501 runs at 42.88 in 45 matches, including two centuries in the 1997 tournament. Hockley’s all-round prowess extended to her 54 ODI wickets, cementing her status as a cricketing icon.
Emily Drumm
Drumm etched her name in history as New Zealand’s first World Cup-winning captain, steering her team to a thrilling four-run victory over Australia in the 2000 final. A technically gifted batter, she recorded 161 not out against Australia and 112 not out against England in her five-Test career. Drumm’s ODI career saw her achieve 21 fifties and two centuries in 100 matches, leaving an enduring legacy of class and leadership.
The NZC Hall of Fame is more than a recognition of cricketing excellence; it is a celebration of the dedication, talent, and influence of players who shaped New Zealand cricket’s history.
(Quotes sourced from NZC media release)
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