Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Veteran opener Daniel Hughes and international superstar Ashleigh Gardner have taken out the major gongs at last night’s annual Cricket NSW awards at Doltone House in Sydney.
In a special night, which celebrated the 21st staging of the awards, five former greats – Muriel Picton, Tom Garrett, Herbie Collins, Steve Rixon and Leah Poulton – were inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame, while six Community awards were handed out in recognition of the enormous contribution made to the sport by volunteers.
Hughes, from Cowra in the state’s central west, was awarded the prestigious Steve Waugh Medal after accumulating the most votes by his peers and coaches across the Marsh One-Day Cup and Marsh Sheffield Shield competitions.
It is Hughes’ third Steve Waugh Medal, after wins in 2017/18 and 2019/20 and sees him equal current teammate and 2022/23 finalist Sean Abbott as the only Blues player to have won the state’s top male honour three times.
The stylish left-hander also took out the Michael Bevan One Day Player of the Tournament Medal after one of the greatest individual seasons in the competition’s history, where he scored four centuries, plundering 548 runs from seven matches at an average of 78.28.
Gardner capped a memorable twelve months for Australia, NSW and the Sydney Sixers by taking out her first Belinda Clark Medal.
While she has proven to be a global star in national colours, it was in WBBL|08 where Gardner shone brightest this summer, starring with both bat and ball for the Sixers to produce one of the WBBL’s most dominant seasons. Gardner took 23 wickets with her off spin at a miserly economy rate of 6.63, to go with 339 runs at 28.25 at a strike rate of over 150. Matched with some characteristically magnificent fielding, those stats won Gardner five Player of the Match awards, the Player of the Tournament trophy and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Gardner predictably took out the Sydney Sixers WBBL Player of the Tournament award, while Abbott claimed the corresponding Sixers BBL prize.
Fresh from her selection in the Australian squad for the upcoming women’s Ashes, Phoebe Litchfield claimed the Alex Blackwell Medal for Sydney Thunder’s WBBL Player of the Tournament, while Chris Green was awarded Mike Hussey Medal for Thunder’s BBL Player of the Tournament.
Later on in the night, Green capped his best ever season when he was announced as the NSW Sheffield Shield player of the tournament in a summer that he made his long-awaited debut. The all-rounder took Player of the Match honours in a losing side on debut, snaring nine wickets at the SCG. Green concluded the season having played six Shield matches, taking 20 wickets at 23.05 and 290 runs at 41.42, with three half centuries.
Tahlia Wilson, who like Litchfield earned Australian selection late last month, being named in the Australia A team to tour England, had extra reason to celebrate her summer after being named the WNCL Player of the tournament.
Matt Everett from Gilgandra in Western Zone was named the Josh Hazlewood Country Player of the Year, while multi-sport star Jodie Hicks from Hay in the Riverina received the Alex Blackwell Country Player of the Year.
Gerard Abood was announced as the inaugural Cricket NSW Representative Umpire of the Year, Narromine Cricket Club won the Club of the Year, Amanda Frazer was the Volunteer of the Year and teenager Elysa Oliveri took out the Young Leader of the Year.
The Junior Initiative of the Year went to Cowra Junior Cricket Association, the Women and Girls Initiative of the Year was awarded to Dubbo Junior Cricket Association and the prize for the Diversity and Inclusions Initiative of the Year was given to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club.
FULL LIST 2022-23 CNSW AWARD WINNERS:
CNSW Hall of Fame inductees
Muriel Picton
Tom Garrett
Herbie Collins
Steve Rixon
Leah Poulton
Belinda Clark Medal
Player judged to have had the best performances for a NSW WBBL club and during WNCL over the course season.
Winner: Ashleigh Gardner
Steve Waugh Medal
Player judged to have had the best performances for NSW during the Marsh Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup seasons.
Winner: Daniel Hughes
Michael Bevan One-Day Cup Player of the Tournament
Player judged to have had the best performances for NSW during the Marsh One-Day Cup tournament.
Winner: Daniel Hughes
Sheffield Shield Player of the Tournament
Player judged to have had the best performances for NSW during the Marsh Sheffield Shield tournament.
Winner: Chris Green
Women’s National Cricket League Player of the Tournament
Player judged to have had the best performances for NSW during the WNCL tournament.
Winner: Tahlia Wilson
Sydney Thunder Alex Blackwell Medal and Mike Hussey Medal
Awarded to the players adjudged to have had the best performances in the respective tournaments.
Winners: Phoebe Litchfield and Chris Green
Sydney Sixers WBBL and BBL Players of the Season
Awarded to the players adjudged to have had the best performances in the respective tournaments.
Winner: Ashleigh Gardner and Sean Abbott
Alex Blackwell Women’s Country Player of the Year
Awarded to the country player adjudged to have had the best performances this season as well as for their sustained performances.
Winner: Jodie Hicks
Josh Hazlewood Men’s Country Player of the Year
Awarded to the country player adjudged to have had the best performances this season as well as for their sustained performances.
Winner: Matt Everett
Representative Umpire of the Year
Awarded for excellence in umpiring performance in Cricket Australia competitions in the current season.
Winner: Gerard Abood
Community Awards
Club of the Year: Narromine Cricket Club
Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Fraser
Young Leader of the Year: Elysa Oliveri
Junior Initiative of the Year: Cowra Junior Cricket Association
Women and Girls Initiative of the Year: Dubbo Junior Cricket Association
Diversity and Inclusions Initiative of the Year: West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club
