Jacob Duffy has been awarded the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
Jacob Duffy has been crowned New Zealand’s best male cricketer for 2025-26 in one of Southland cricket’s more special achievements in its 162-year history.
On Thursday night, Duffy was awarded the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal – the supreme award for the Black Caps – at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
He was rewarded for a season of relentless, high-quality bowling across all formats, the fast bowler claiming 25 Test wickets at an outstanding average of 16, including three five-wicket hauls in just four Tests.
The Lumsden-born Invercargill-raised Southlander delivered over 150 overs in the three-test series against the West Indies, more than any other New Zealand bowler, highlighted by a marathon 43-over stint against the West Indies in the first Test at Christchurch.
At the end of the series in December, Duffy had broken the New Zealand record for most international wickets across all formats in a calendar year.
Duffy’s 81 wickets beat the 79 Sir Richard Hadlee took in 1985.
On Thursday night, Duffy was also named the Black Caps Test Player of the Year and was awarded the Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling, becoming one of the few players to claim three major awards in a single evening.
“Jacob’s durability, consistency, and ability to take wickets in pressure moments made him the most complete bowling performer of the season,” Sir Richard Hadlee said.
Duffy is currently in India preparing for the start of the Indian Premier League.
The 31-year-old is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which will play in the opening game of the competition against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday morning (NZ time).
Sir Richard Hadlee Medal: Jacob Duffy
Debbie Hockley Medal: Melie Kerr
Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Services to Cricket: Martin Snedden
Test Player of the Year: Jacob Duffy
Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Daryl Mitchell
Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Brooke Halliday
Men’s T20I Player of the Year: Tim Seifert
Women’s T20I Player of the Year: Melie Kerr
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year: Henry Nicholls
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year: Jess Kerr
Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year: Katene Clarke
Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year: Jess Kerr
Redpath Cup (men’s first-class batting): Henry Nicholls
Ruth Martin Cup (women’s domestic batting): Kate Anderson
Winsor Cup (men’s first-class bowling): Jacob Duffy
Phyl Blackler Cup (women’s domestic bowling): Jess Kerr
G.J. Gardner Homes Umpire of the Year: Chris Gaffaney