The Auckland Aces are gearing up to celebrate the illustrious career of Martin Guptill as ‘Thank You Gup’ day during their men’s Super Smash T20 game against the Wellington Firebirds on January 4 at the Eden Park Outer Oval. The day, aptly named ‘Thank You, Gup,’ is dedicated to honoring the 37-year-old cricketer’s outstanding contributions to New Zealand and Auckland cricket.
As part of the festivities, the iconic Eden Park Outer Oval will undergo a temporary transformation, bearing the name ‘The Martin Guptill Oval’ for the special testimonial game. The celebrations extend beyond the match, with Auckland’s Men’s Premier Club T20 competition set to be renamed the Martin Guptill Cup from the upcoming 2024-25 season, emphasizing Guptill’s impact on cricket at grassroots levels.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Guptill has clarified that this isn’t a retirement party, expressing his intent to continue playing in franchise T20 and T10 leagues globally. Since becoming a free agent in November 2022 following his release from the Black Caps central contract, Guptill has been actively participating in various T20 leagues.
Recognizing Guptill as one of New Zealand’s finest white-ball cricketers, Auckland Cricket CEO Iain Laxon praised his significant contributions. Guptill’s association with Auckland dates back to his T20 debut in January 2006, where he remains the highest run-scorer for the team in the format.
“Martin is without doubt one of our country’s finest ever white-ball cricketers and we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate and recognise what he has done for cricket,” Auckland Cricket CEO Iain Laxon said in a statement.
“His career is one that feels at times like an ongoing highlights reel, there are so many moments where he has made hugely significant contributions at a domestic level for Auckland or on the international stage for New Zealand. Those efforts create memories for all of us and we want everyone to come along and join us in saying thanks to him for all those special moments.”
Guptill’s impact extends to the international stage, where he holds the record as New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in T20Is, with 3531 runs at an average of 31.81 and a strike rate of 135.70. With only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma surpassing him in T20I cricket’s all-time run-scorer list, Guptill’s achievements are truly remarkable.
As ‘Thank You, Gup’ day approaches, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate a day filled with gratitude and acknowledgment for Martin Guptill’s exceptional contributions to the game. The celebrations aim to highlight the special moments of Guptill’s cricketing journey and provide fans with an opportunity to express their appreciation for the cricketing maestro.
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