While there’s one seemingly unbackable favourite, which of the five remaining contenders wins the 2017-18 Orange District Cricket Association’s player of the year crown won’t be revealed until next month’s presentation night.
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ODCA president Mark Frecklington released the five-player shortlist in the lead-up to this weekend’s grand finals and although he did so in no particular order, Cavaliers’ Josh Doherty must be considered the front-runner after a bumper season.
He’s the top grade’s leading run-scorer and wicket-taker and led Orange’s representative run-scoring stakes too.
The player of the year crown takes representative cricket into consideration, however finals aren’t taken into account because not every player across the association has the chance to feature in the post-season.
There’s still every reason to suggest the other four contenders in Orange City’s Jackson Coote and Ed Morrish, Kinross’ Angus Cumming and Centrals and Orange skipper Daryl Kennewell, who is also the reigning MVP, have genuine claims to the award though.
Cumming was Orange’s leading wicket-taker while the other three rounded out that top four, the Kinross gun was third on the representative run-scoring list too.
The whole quartet is in the top six on the club-based wicket-taking stakes too.
Coote, who has taken a combined 40 wickets this year at a stunning average of just 10.1 and won the award in 2010-11, may have a leg-up though after representing Western Zone earlier this summer.
“I don't think any of these players can be discounted,” Frecklington said.
“Jackson took a few wickets for Western, but the other guys have all had great seasons as well.”
The second half of the season has played a huge role in deciding the award too, Frecklington said, even though four of the five remaining contenders were in the mix at the Christmas break.
Morrish led at the halfway point, with Cavaliers skipper Matt Corben, Doherty, Coote and Kennewell in second to fifth, respectively.
“It has been a really interesting second half to the season,” Frecklington said, giving away absolutely nothing.
“I think a lot of people would consider Josh the favorite, but I also don’t think many people would realise how well the other contenders have done either.”
The MVP will be crowned at next month’s presentation night, the date of which is to be confirmed.
AT A GLANCE: THE CONTENDERS
A quick look at how the five contenders’ seasons stack up across all cricket, by the numbers – not including club finals.
1 | ANGUS CUMMING (Kinross)
Wkts: 35 | Ave: 20.11 | SR: 28 | BB: 4-21
Runs: 234 | Ave: 13 | HS: 50
2 | JACKSON COOTE (Orange City)
Wkts: 40 | Ave: 10.1 | SR: 21.2 | BB: 6-25
Runs: 90 | Ave: 12.85 | HS: 28
3 | JOSH DOHERTY (Cavaliers)
Runs: 908 | Ave: 45.40 | HS 192
Wkts: 33 | Ave: 17.15 | SR: 20.9 | BB: 7-20
4 | ED MORRISH (Orange City)
Wkts: 38 | Ave: 15.31 | SR: 23.8 | BB: 6-27
Runs: 181 | Ave: 18.1 | HS: 35
5 | DARYL KENNEWELL (Centrals)
Wkts: 36 | Ave:16.72 | SR: 24.86 | BB: 6-85
Runs: 148 | Ave: 12.33 | HS: 49