Photo Credit: South Australian Cricket Association
Courtney Webb and Henry Hunt have claimed top honours at South Australian cricket’s end of season celebrations, with the duo proudly accepting the McCauley and Dansie Medals at Adelaide Oval on Thursday evening.Emerging from the count with 99 votes each, Webb and Hunt edged out Ellie Falconer (89 votes) and Nathan McAndrew (93 votes) to end the night with the major awards draped around their neck at the Dansie McCauley Medal Night.
Topping the charts for runs in the WNCL, Webb secures her maiden McCauley Medal for a brilliant season highlighted by 367 runs at an average of 45.87 and featuring four half centuries, including a top score of 88 in the Grand Final.
Fellow first-time winner Hunt caps a remarkable summer in red by claiming the Dansie Medal thanks to 601 runs in Sheffield Shield cricket built on a foundation of three centuries and an average of 46.23. Taking the reins as skipper to finish the summer in the absence of Travis Head and Alex Carey, Hunt’s captain’s knock in the final fixture at Karen Rolton Oval led the Redbacks to a thrilling win over NSW to conclude the season.
For Webb, the accolade sees her become the first player since Lauren Ebsary in 2012/13 to win both the McCauley and Karen Rolton Medals in the same season. Hunt’s poolroom is also beginning to require an extension following his Sheffield Shield Player of the Year nod and last year’s trophy as the player who best contributes positively to South Australian team culture.
That award, named in honour of South Australian cult legend Barry ‘Nugget’ Rees, was handed to first year quick Jordan Buckingham on Thursday night, recognition for the 21-year-old’s tireless work since trading state emblems in the offseason, work that earned a baggy red cap to complete a brilliant first season in Adelaide.
Two new trophies were minted ahead of the prestigious event, with the Lauren Ebsary Award celebrating a young player who has exhibited elite on-field performance, and the Coaches Award to highlight a player who has contributed positively to the South Australian Scorpions team culture.
Lauren Ebsary presented the inaugural silverware bearing her name to Ellie Falconer, who led the Scorpions for wickets taken with 14 while also contributing strongly with bat in hand. Tegan McPharlin became the inaugural winner of the Coaches Award, presented by Luke Williams in tandem with heartfelt words of thanks to the former South Australian captain who announced her retirement from State cricket following the WNCL Final.
Jacinta Goodger-Chandler and Tyrell Sinclair took home the State Indigenous Female and Male Player of the Year respectively for their brilliant summers, while Isaac Higgins accepted the Peter Wang award as a youth player displaying excellent ability, work ethic and team commitment.
Adelaide Strikers MVP titles were also awarded, going to batters Katie Mack and Matt Short respectively. The second most prolific with the blade across WBBL|07, Mack crunched 513 runs at the remarkable average of 64.12 to drive the Strikers into the Grand Final against Perth Scorchers. Short was a revelation at the top of the order in the BBL, amassing 493 runs at a strike rate of 155.52 while also taking crucial wickets in his dual role as opening bowler. Unable to attend the event, both players appeared at Adelaide Oval via pre-recorded video.
A golden summer continued for Alex Carey in the form of the Marsh One-Day Cup MVP following a brilliant tournament that yielded two centuries that launched the wicketkeeper onto the international stage ahead of an historic Ashes campaign.
The coveted Barry Jarman Award for most improved cricketer in the Redbacks squad went to Thomas Kelly, another South Australian star in the making following debuts in four-day, one-day and BBL cricket this summer.
