It has been close to a week since the Cricket World Cup has been over, but the ripples of its nerve-wrecking and intense finale are still causing the effect around the world. That being said, English player Ben Stokes and New Zealand team captain, Kane Williamson are to face off once more. But this time, it’s not on a cricket field. Both Ben Stokes and Kane Williamson have been nominated for the award of ‘The New Zealander of the Year’.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzPkRL_lOrr/
It might seem weird at first, as Stokes wasn’t playing for the Kiwis, but for England. But the all-rounder was born in New Zealand before moving to England when he was 12, and later starting his Cricket career over there. The chief judge of the New Zealander of the Year Award, Cameron Bennett supported the choice of Stokes for nomination. He said –
“He might not have been playing for the Black Caps but, having been born in Christchurch, where his parents now live, and with Maori ancestry, there’s clearly a few Kiwis about who think we can still claim him.”
The New Zealand public nominates inspirational NZers for the award – those who they believe have made a ‘significant contribution to our nation and make us proud of our country’. And despite Ben Stokes shattered their dreams of winning the World Cup this year, this is NZ’s ultimate gesture of ‘no hard feelings!’
Alongside Ben Stokes, Kiwi captain Kane Williamson has also been nominated for the award. Williamson’s actions after defeat in the World Cup final earned him several nominations. Bennett remarked –
“He’s been the embodiment of the qualities we cherish as New Zealanders – courage, fairness, humility.”
He added, “The way Williamson conducted himself in the face of devastating disappointment in the final and throughout the World Cup resonated with Kiwis.”
The nominations for the New Zealander of the Year Award can be given to any NZer above 15 years of age. This year would be the 11th year for the award. The previous winners of the award have been, NZ movie director, Taika Waititi (director of Thor Ragnarok).
As the news made it to Twitter, happy netizens were overwhelmed with joy over the positivity of the gesture.
https://twitter.com/spitefulmusic/status/1152162843384565760
New Zealand is indeed a country,
appreciates only talent.
This proves…..👆— 👒Vaishnavi👠👑🎀🎄🎋🎇🎉📯🏆💍💫 😇💝👄 (@Sleepinbeauutyy) July 19, 2019
Wow!! New Zealand 🇳🇿 👏
— Tim H 🏴🇬🇧 (@TJAITCH) July 19, 2019
Expect the unexpected…it's #kiwi thing
— Hi10 (@hiten888) July 19, 2019
Ben Stokes’ ‘accidental six’ was the reason that the match between England and New Zealand ended in a tie in the first place – eventually snatching the chances of kiwis winning the Cup. But this ironically sweet gesture by the Kiwis just proves it all over again – England may have won the World Cup, But NZ won our hearts!
Cover image: Source