Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen inducted into NZC Hall of Fame
Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen, both former all-rounders, have been inducted into the NZC Hall of Fame for the first time since the inaugural "First Eleven" last year. Coney, an allrounder, played international cricket between 1974 and 1987 and led the New Zealand men's team through their golden era in the 1980s. That included three historic Test series victories in 1985 and 1986: against Australia in Australia, Australia in New Zealand, and England in England, all first-time achievements.
Coney played 52 Tests and scored 2668 runs, including 15 fifties and three centuries, at a rate of 37.57. He also picked up 27 wickets with his medium pace. Coney took 54 wickets and scored 1874 runs at 30.72 in 88 one-day internationals. Coney became a successful sports commentator and host on television and radio following his retirement.
"I think back to the skinny wraith from Ngaio in Wellington, spending his primary schoolboy afternoons alone on our tennis court immersed with a ball, my older brother's bat (which HAD to be replaced in the precise position it lay prior to his return from college)," Coney said.
"In that wash-house I first heard the seductive clink of buckles from padsā¦ It was on this tennis court, using this borrowed equipment I created unlikely and (as yet) unregistered Test victories over England and Australia. Imagine the joy I felt when these mythical encounters became real for me.
Tiffen is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest female cricketers. She made her ODI debut in 1999 against South Africa at the age of 19, playing 117 matches and scoring 2919 runs at 30.72 with 18 fifties and a century. Additionally, she took 49 wickets with her medium pace. Tiffen played two Tests and nine T20Is, and as captain, led the team to the 2009 World Cup final in Australia. After retiring in 2009, Tiffen also coached the New Zealand women's team.
She stated, "It's a huge honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and to be alongside some of my role models, like Debbie Hockley, Sir Richard Hadlee, and Emily Drumm, who have already been inducted." When I was a young girl from Timaru, it was always my dream to represent New Zealand. "Cricket has given me a lot, including amazing friendships, challenges, and memories that will last a lifetime. I'm very grateful to the game and everyone who supported me along the way."
Last summer's NZC HOF inauguration saw the induction of Bert Sutcliffe, John R. Reid, Jackie Lord, Trish McKelvey, Glenn Turner, Sir Richard Hadlee, Debbie Hockley, Martin Crowe, Emily Drumm, Daniel Vettori, and Brendon McCullum. Inductees for the HOF "must have represented New Zealand, and must have been retired for at least five years, with selections guided by outstanding performance as players, including leadership, influence, and world-class stature in their prime."
During the New Zealand Cricket Awards on Thursday, Coney and Tiffen will be formally inducted into the HOF.
