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 at 37.57, which included 15 fifties and three centuries. He also picked up 27 wickets with his medium pace. Coney played 88 ODIs, where he scored 1874 runs at 30.72 and also picked up 54 wickets. Post his retirement, Coney became a successful TV and radio sports commentator and presenter.
“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 pads… It was on this tennis court, using this borrowed equipment I created unlikely and (as yet) unregistered Test victories over England and Australia. One might imagine the pleasure supplied when these mythical encounters became a reality for me”.
Tiffen is widely regarded as one of the best women cricketers New Zealand have ever produced. She debuted against South Africa in 1999 as a 19-year-old and played 117 ODIs, scoring 2919 runs at 30.72 with 18 fifties and a century. She also picked up 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. Tiffen also coached the New Zealand women’s side post her retirement in 2009.
“It’s a huge honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and to be alongside some of my role models already inducted, like Debbie Hockley, Sir Richard Hadlee and Emily Drumm,” she said.”As a young girl from Timaru, representing New Zealand was always a dream.
“Cricket has given me so much, incredible friendships, challenges, and memories that will stay with me forever. 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.”
Coney and Tiffen will be formally inducted into the HoF during the New Zealand Cricket Awards on Thursday.