Black Caps duo Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry have been named players of the year in the 2025 New Zealand Cricket Almanack.
The publication is in its 78th year and faithfully chronicles the New Zealand domestic and international seasons.
The players of the year section is one of the highlights.
Henry shared the gong with Santner following another strong season with the ball.
The right-armer took 70 wickets across all formats during the season — 56 of them were for the Black Caps.
He produced a standout performance in the first test against India, grabbing five for 15 in the first innings to rout India for just 46 and set up an eight-wicket win.
In five tests, he claimed 25 wickets at an average of 20.18, and in nine ODIs he grabbed 24 wickets at 15.50.
Santner was appointed captain of the white balls team at the start of the season.
His most memorable effort came in the second test against India. The left-arm spinner nabbed seven for 53 and six for 104 to guide New Zealand to a 113-run win.
His 13 wickets in the match are the third-best by a New Zealand bowler.
White Ferns all-rounder Melie Kerr was named women’s player of the year.
Kerr helped her side win the T20 World Cup last year and was named player of the tournament and player of the final. She was also awarded the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC women’s cricketer of the year.
Canterbury’s Izzy Sharp was named as the promising player of the year following a strong domestic season.
Curtis Heaphy (Central Districts), Rhys Mariu (Canterbury) and Muhammad Abbas (Wellington) were named men’s promising players of the year.
