Photo Credit: Strikers Media
Batsman Jon Wells has capped off a standout summer by claiming the Adelaide Strikers’ KFC BBL|09 Most Valuable Player award.
Wells produced a career-best Big Bash season to finish as Adelaide’s leading runscorer for a second consecutive summer and win the player-voted award for the first time.
The right-hander was a regular match-winner for the Strikers in BBL|09, carving 478 runs to sit fourth in the competition on the runs leaderboard and set a new record for the most runs by a Striker in any BBL tournament.
Wells finished unbeaten at the crease seven times and was dismissed for less than 20 runs on just three occasions through 15 innings in a mark of his incredible consistency, notching four half-centuries and three Player of the Match awards along the way.
His average of 68 was comfortably the best in the competition and a full 14 runs above second-ranked Marcus Stoinis of the Melbourne Stars.
Wells was only four votes behind Stoinis in the BBL Player of the Tournament voting and earned deserved selection in the BBL Team of the Tournament.
He also set elite standards in the field, claiming five catches and saving countless runs with his speed and athleticism in the outfield.
“It’s a great honour to be named the MVP for the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|09. There have been a lot of great players who have won this award in the past,” Wells said in a pre-recorded acceptance speech.
“Words can’t describe the atmosphere at Adelaide Oval. We love getting out there and playing at home – no doubt it’s my favourite ground to play at.
“Hopefully there’s some more team success coming in the near future.”
Wells joins an impressive list of past MVP winners including current teammates Rashid Khan (BBL|07 & BBL|08) and Michael Neser (BBL|03) and inaugural Strikers captain Michael Klinger (BBL|01) amongst others.
