Martin Guptill

Fondly known as ‘Two Toes’ after losing three toes in a truck accident as a child, Martin Guptill showed remarkable courage in overcoming the setback and reaching the international stage. The sight of him standing tall at the crease, bat held high, was often followed by the sound of the ball racing to the boundary. His reach, power and timing made him one of New Zealand's most prolific white-ball cricketers.

Guptill made his international debut in 2009 and quickly established himself at the top of New Zealand's limited-overs batting. A century against West Indies on ODI debut announced his arrival, while his athleticism and powerful throwing arm made him an equally important presence in the field. His rise was recognised with the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal in 2012, along with New Zealand's ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards.

The defining chapter came at the 2015 World Cup. After a strong tournament with the bat, Guptill produced one of the great World Cup innings in the quarter-final against West Indies at Wellington. He smashed an unbeaten 237 from 163 balls, becoming the first New Zealander to score an ODI double-century. New Zealand went on to reach the final for the first time, with Guptill finishing the tournament as their leading run-scorer.

Martin remained at the heart of New Zealand's white-ball teams for years afterwards, playing in another World Cup final in 2019 and featuring in their run to the 2021 T20 World Cup final. Alongside his international career, he built a substantial presence in T20 leagues around the world. After 14 years with New Zealand, Guptill hung up his boots in 2025, bringing an end to a career that had spanned 367 international matches and left behind a lasting image of the tall opener launching the ball into the stands.