BLACKCAPS captain Brendon McCullum and coach Mike Hesson were humbled to receive their Queen’s Birthday Honours today in Wellington, alongside fellow members of the family of cricket Dame Therese Walsh and John (Jock) Sutherland.
McCullum and Hesson were appointed by Governor General Jerry Mateparae at Government House as Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to cricket, while Sutherland received a Queen’s Service Medal, and Dame Therese (DNZM) recognised for her leadership in sports administration which ensured both the 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup were greatly successful tournaments for New Zealand.
The recognition for Nelson stalwart Jock Sutherland reflects more than 40 years’ service to the game, starting as president of the Wakatu Cricket Club in the mid-1970s.
Since then, the inspirational Sutherland has served on the boards of Nelson Cricket Association, Central Districts Cricket Association and New Zealand Cricket. He is also a Life Member of the Wakatu Cricket Club, Nelson Cricket Association and Central Districts Cricket Association who helped drive fundraising for the award-winning, $3.8m pavilion at Saxton Oval, elevating the venue to international standard.
McCullum and Hesson have been the captain and head coach, respectively, of the BLACKCAPS since 2012, overseeing an exciting period of growth and success for the team. They led the BLACKCAPS to the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup this year for the first time, and to an unprecedented five Test wins in the 2014/15 season.
“Obviously it’s a tremendous honour and one I’m delighted to be able to accept," McCullum said at the Queen’s Birthday announcement.
“Individual accolades are always a little bit tough to accept in a team sport, but I’ve got a lot of respect for others who have also got awards and it’s nice to be recognised.”
Hesson hoped that the honours would be seen as recognition for the entire BLACKCAPS team, both on and off the field.
“We front the team from a coach and captain’s perspective, but we wouldn’t be here receiving this honour without a very good group of cricketers and really good support staff around us.”
Hesson has paid tribute to McCullum for his leadership and contribution to the game in New Zealand during a 13-year international career.
“He’s captured a nation, not only with his style of play, but with the way he’s encouraged his teammates to embrace the game in terms of passion and spirit. It is very deserving.”
McCullum hoped the accolades would be good for the game in New Zealand.
“You try to make an impact on the sport while you have the opportunity, and to leave it in a better space than when you started. Hopefully, these honours show we’re all moving in the right direction together – team, support staff, NZC and all New Zealanders who love the game.”
David White, Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket has commented that “Mike and Brendon are probably the most successful double act in the history of the New Zealand cricket team. Both wonderful assets in their own right, together they have made a compelling combination — forming a dynamic that’s far greater than its sum of parts.
“They are fantastic ambassadors for our game, and we’re delighted to see them recognised in this way.”
Dame Therese Walsh was Chief Operating Officer of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand before bringing her wealth of experience to head the New Zealand organising committee for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, and has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sports administration.
Among Dame Therese’s Cricket World Cup achievements were successfully negotiating for New Zealand to host a significant number of CWC matches, including the thrilling BLACKCAPS semi-final in Auckland, and the moving opening ceremony in Christchurch after the city had missed out on hosting any Rugby World Cup games due to the tragic impact of the 2011 earthquake.
Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2015
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)
HESSON, Mr Michael James (Mike) — For services to cricket
MCCULLUM, Mr Brendon Barrie — For services to cricket
Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)
SUTHERLAND, Mr John (Jock) — For services to cricket
Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM)
WALSH, Therese — For services to sports administration
Mike Hesson has coached cricket for 20 years, having initially represented Otago B as an opening batsman. In 1998 he was the youngest person to attain a New Zealand Cricket level three coaching qualification and soon afterwards became coaching director at Otago Cricket for five years. In 2003 he was appointed by the International Cricket Council as national coach of Argentina. He was then selected as coach of Otago’s first-class side, the SBS Bank Otago Volts, achieving titles in the national Ford Trophy competition in 2008 and Twenty20 in 2009. Hesson accepted a contract as national coach of Kenya before winning his role as coach of the BLACKCAPS.
Brendon McCullum made his Test debut for New Zealand in 2004 against South Africa and his One-Day International debut against Australia in 2002. He is the leading career run scorer in Twenty20 International cricket and is the first, and so far only, player to have scored two Twenty20 International centuries and 2000 runs in T20 Internationals. In 2014, he scored 302 against India —the first New Zealander to score a triple century in Test cricket. He has played for the SBS Bank Otago Volts since 2007 and from 1999 to 2003. McCullum played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and was captain in 2009. He was selected for the 20-man International Cricket Council (ICC) World XI squad for the ICC Super Series in 2005.
