Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket
Four Queensland Cricket legends have been recognised for their contribution to the game with awards named in their honour to be presented at the Queensland Cricket Awards Dinner in April.
Former Australian and Queensland players Jimmy Maher, Jodie Purves, Kirsten Pike, and the late Andrew Symonds will be represented with the awards that characterise on and off field excellence.
The Queensland Bulls Player’s Player Award will be known as the Andrew Symonds Medal, an award voted on by Bulls squad members for the player who best represents the team’s values of teamwork, honesty, and mateship.
Former Australian and Queensland all-rounder Symonds is remembered by cricket fans as one of the most devastating players of his generation and a player held in the highest esteem by his teammates.
The Jodie Purves Trophy is a new award that has been created to recognise the best Queensland female performer across all formats to run alongside the Ian Healy Trophy as the best male player for the Queensland Bulls.
The Jodie Purves Trophy will see player-voted points gained across Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat performances in the WNCL and WBBL cumulated for an overall Player of the Year to complement the Queensland Fire Player of the Year and Player’s Player Awards.
The award is named in recognition of former Queensland and Australian wicket-keeper Jodie Purves who captained Australia to two World Cup victories along with playing four Tests, 67 One Day Internationals and 37 T20 Internationals for her country. She was inducted into the Queensland Cricket Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020.
The significant contribution of former Queensland and Australian players Kirsten Pike and Jimmy Maher to charities and community cricket has been recognised with the establishment of the Pike – Maher Community Medal.
The award recognises the Queensland male or female cricketer who played a major role in creating a positive difference in Queensland’s communities through charitable and community contributions.
Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Terry Svenson paid tribute to Symonds, Maher, Pike, and Purves for their contribution to cricket.
“Queensland Cricket is proud to recognise some of our truly elite players who have had a significant impact on our game with the naming of our new awards.
“There is nobody who personifies the Queensland Bulls culture of teamwork, mateship, and success more than Andrew Symonds.
“Roy was the ultimate team man and someone who is sorely missed by anyone who played with him and fans that watched him play. He has inspired many of our current crop of players and I know this is an award anyone involved with the Bulls will be proud to win.
“Equally, Jodie Purves has made a major contribution to the female game in Queensland. Her record as a captain and player speaks for itself, and she continues to make the game a more accessible one for female talent through the Jodie Purves Scholarship.
“The Pike – Maher Community Medal is one we hope all of our players will aspire to win.
“Anyone who is privileged enough to don a Queensland or Brisbane Heat cap has a duty to leave the game in a better place than when they came into it, and this award recognises those players who go above and beyond to make a significant impact in the community.
“Kirsten and Jimmy are deserving to have this award named after them.
“Kirsten Pike raises money each year for charities through her cycling trips across Australia and is a great example to our current players of utilising their platform to make a difference in the community.
“As a former Queensland captain, then Founder and Managing Director of the Bulls Masters, Jimmy Maher has dedicated much of his life to cricket.
“The Bulls Masters use their status as past legends of the game to grow cricket with a focus on regional Queensland, while raising money for local cricket associations.
“Both Kirsten and Jimmy have made outstanding contributions to cricket and our communities and are role models for anyone coming into our Queensland squads to look up to.
“We’re looking to celebrating the achievements of our players, staff, volunteers, and clubs at our upcoming awards dinner.”
The Queensland Cricket Awards will be held on Saturday April 1.
