Central Districts Cricket is absolutely thrilled today to congratulate one of our CD alumnae, PENNY KINSELLA, on the 2022 Bert Sutcliffe Medal.

The Bert Sutcliffe Medal is one of the most prestigious accolades at the annual NZC Cricket Awards — and former WHITE FERNS, Central Hinds and Manawatu representative Kinsella is the first woman to be bestowed with the honour.

Now based in Wellington, Kinsella was born in Palmerston North - the daughter for Dave Kinsella, a former Test umpire who himself played 28 first-class matches for the Central Stags in the 1960s.

Penny was among the first generation of CD players to go on to play Test cricket for New Zealand after getting her start with the recently formed Central Districts Women - debuting for the team now known as the Central Hinds in 1981/82, after its 1979 inception.

NZ CRICKET MUSEUM COLLECTION

Kinsella would play 17 List A matches for the Hinds and produced her career-best one-day knock of 93 for the team, as well as 20 women’s first-class fixtures in CD colours with a career best of 90, before shifting to Wellington where she saw out her career from the 1988/89 season until 1996/97.

Kinsella made her Test debut in 1989/90, going on to play six Tests for New Zealand and scoring a half century, as well as playing in 20 ODIs and contributing two half centuries.

“I got a lovely phone call, while I was in a shared office with other people, and I was just so humbled by it because the things I do [in cricket], I do it for others.”

Kinsella said she has “a real passion for developing young players, and it’s just been my one sadness that I haven’t developed a New Zealand cricketer out of that - but it could happen, I’ve got one on the go right now!”

As a teacher, Kinsella was a driving force behind re-introducing cricket for girls at Wellington’s Onslow College where she is now Deputy Principal.

She has fulfilled many voluntary roles in cricket since her retirement as a player - including managing teams, coaching provincial, New Zealand A and South Island teams and squads, and three stints as a WHITE FERNS selector.

Kinsella was also actively involved in the significant amalgamation of the New Zealand Women’s Cricket Council and the (men’s) New Zealand Cricket Council in the early 1990s and, more recently, was part of the project team compiling the history of women’s cricket in New Zealand.

She still assists Cricket Wellington with selecting and coaching its age-group squads, and mentoring players, and is on the board of the New Zealand Cricket Museum at the Basin Reserve.

Kinsella said being the first woman to receive the Bert Sutcliffe Oval made it extra special and, typically, immediately cast a thought to others.

“So let’s get some more women onto that list because there are women doing amazing things for cricket in New Zealand!”

Heartiest congratulations from all of us here at CD Cricket, Penny!

Article added: Thursday 14 April 2022