Not to discredit the three other clubs' efforts this summer, but from early on in the season the 2018-19 Challenge Shield did appear to be a race of two - although CYMS made life very tough for the Warriors in the preliminary final.

The statistics, and this line up, prove exactly why.

While there was a number of remarkable performances individually and holistically, for the most part they came from either Orange or Cavaliers players.

For example in a season where a highlight was the resurgence of the competition's batters there was 10 tons on the flat wickets around the city, Cavaliers' willow-wielders accounted for six of those and Orange City bats took care of two more.

And so as we do every year once the dust settles the Central Western Daily sports desk has trawled through the numbers to present to your our Challenge Shield Team Of The Year.

Normally we'd use the template of five bats, an all-rounder, a wicketkeeper, three quicks, a spinner and a 12^th man but considering how many blokes are crossing over into a number of categories, we couldn't do that this season.

In fact there's not really a template at all this summer because we'd included four genuine all-rounders in this side, but try telling us it's not the best-performed team of the year.

This is the batting order we'd use for this side too, enjoy.

GAMES: 12 | INN: 11 | RUNS: 450 | AVE: 50.00 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2 | HS: 125 not out

Anyone who's been around the Orange City camp will know how highly the Warriors rate the youngster, and it's easy to forget he's only 16 and was only in his first full season in the top grade, although you'd never have guessed it watching him this summer.

Was consistent throughout the entire summer and his top score of 125 not out was an innings to behold.

He did get out between 30 and 60 on seven occasions so there is room for improvement in terms of converting his starts but, as said, the kid's 16 and he's just bashed out almost 500 runs, an incredible effort from the young left-hander.

GAMES: 11 | INN: 11 | RUNS: 490 | AVE: 44.55 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2 | HS: 157

There was never any doubting his ability, but Cook truly found his feet in the top grade in 2018-19 and found his home at the top of Cavaliers' order, finishing the summer as the competition's third leading run-scorer.

Started the season with a bang by smashing two half-centuries straight up and following them up with a massive ton not long after, and while he slowed down in the middle part of the year he found form again at the end.

GAMES: 11 | INN: 10 | RUNS: 526 | AVE: 65.75 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 4 | HS: 178 not out

CATCHES: 10 | STUMPINGS: 7

The competition's leading run-scorer and premier gloveman by the numbers too, Corben once again proved why he's considered among the association's absolute best and his Western Zone nod was testament to that too.

He'd only ever scored one ton before this summer and there was suggestions he couldn't convert he somewhat proved those doubters wrong by not just cracking triple figures, but turning that century into a massive, unbeaten 178 not out.

No doubt he'll continue to build on that and turn more of his half-tons into centuries, but 2018-19 was another excellent season for a star many forget is still only 23.

GAMES: 10 | INN: 9 | RUNS: 389 | AVE: 55.57 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 3 | HS: 101 not out

OVERS: 108.2 | WICKETS: 19 | AVE: 17.11 | STR: 34.21 | 5WI: 0 | BEST: 3-17

He didn't reach to glorious heights of last summer, didn't go close in fact, but by anyone's standards Doherty had another good season, especially when you consider he thought about walking away from the game midway through the season.

He followed through on his commitment to his outfit though, and did everything he possibly could to lead his side to a premiership in what was his final summer for Cavaliers - for now, anyway.

It was sad to see the champion's time end being forced from the field in the grand final through injury, but 2018-19 was a still a pretty good way to go out for the hulking all-rounder.

GAMES: 13 | INN: 13 | RUNS: 491 | AVE: 40.92 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 3 | HS: 100

Another year, another season with Shaun Grenfell finishing among the competition's leading run-scorers.

His 79 in last weekend's decider was a blistering, timely innings and it catapulted him to the top of Orange City's run-scoring tally and to second on the competition's.

He came good at the right time of the summer too. 

Outside a 69 in round two he didn't do much before Christmas, before breaking the shackles with a round 13 ton against Kinross and notching three more half-centuries after that as his side marched to the title.

GAMES: 10 | INN: 9 | RUNS: 483 | AVE: 80.50 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 4 | HS: 112 not out

Another young bloke who's been in and around Cavaliers' top grade group for some time, but he absolutely exploded in 2018-19.

Bashed out his maiden top grade ton in his second game of the summer and went on to score another too, along with passing 50 four more times.

One of those was a 92 against Orange City, outside his duck in the grand final he actually saved his best for the Warriors, who most considered to have the best attack in the competition.

A breakout summer for Ferguson.

GAMES: 10 | INN: 10 | RUNS: 349 | AVE: 34.90 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2 | HS: 119

OVERS: 115.4 | WICKETS: 30 | AVE: 13.6 | STR: 23.1 | 5WI: 2 | BEST: 6-30

Another of Cavaliers' centurions, and another in this side who fits the all-rounder mould.

Almost would've made this side as a batter or a bowler and based on the strength of his summer it wouldn't be fair to leave him out if there was only one all-rounder spot available.

While his numbers with the bat are excellent and his ton was top-notch, it's his bowling stats that are really eye-catching, particularly his strike rate of just 23.1, a proven and genuine wicket-taker.

GAMES: 10 | INN: 12 | RUNS: 234 | AVE: 26.00 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1 | HS: 61

OVERS: 155.4 | WICKETS: 29 | AVE: 15.38 | STR: 32.21 | 5WI: 2 | BEST: 5-6

It might seem a bit odd to have CYMS' 2014-15 and 2015-16 grand final hero batting at eight, but who do you push him above?

Had a relatively quiet year with the bat by his lofty standards but seriously produced with the ball, leading a relatively inexperienced attack with aplomb and becoming the green and golds' spearhead by the end of the summer.

Once again proved his status as a big-game player too with what was arguably a man-of-the-match performance in the preliminary final, despite being in the losing side. 

A must-have in this side.

GAMES: 13 | INN: 12 | RUNS: 363 | AVE: 36.30 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3 | HS: 69

OVERS: 158.5 | WICKETS: 23 | AVE: 19.00 | STR: 41.4 | 5WI: 1 | BEST: 5-40

He's always shown a bit with the bat but if you'd said at the start of the season Morrish would be the competition's premier all-rounder we'd have laughed in your face.

Arguably, he is though and we were never leaving him out of this side because, for us, he has to captain it.

In his first season at the helm Morrish led Orange City to the title and produced one of the great all-time captain's performances to do so in the grand final, winning the decider MVP as a result.

Here's an interesting one for you too, Morrish's club numbers are just a shave off those of Dubbo's Ben Patterson, an Australian Country representative this summer.

We're not suggesting Morrish would make that side, by any means.

What we are suggesting is the Western Zone selectors have absolute rocks in their head if Morrish isn't at the very least considered to go to the Country Cricket NSW Championships next summer.

This team's not about the short form, but considering he's been a star of the Twenty20 Royal Hotel Cup year-in, year-out for some time, it's also completely ridiculous Morrish hasn't played for the Central West Wranglers yet.

GAMES: 11 | OVERS: 183.1 | WICKETS: 33 | AVE: 9.58 | STR: 33.30 | 5WI: 1 | BEST: 6-49

Had everyone in a complete spin this summer and not just at club level, don't forget he took an eight-wicket haul for Orange during the season too.

Another Cavaliers spinner who proved himself a genuine wicker-taker and match-winner, although Black is equally adept at playing a containment role and building pressure from one end while wickets fall at the other.

That seems odd considering he was the competition's leading wicket-taker but there's little doubt plenty of his teammates' scalps this summer came directly from the pressure he was applying because he was never easy to get away.

His average of 9.58 proves that.

GAMES: 12 | OVERS: 125.2 | WICKETS: 30 | AVE: 14.13 | STR: 25.07 | 5WI: 0 | BEST: 4-24

His numbers push him into this side regardless but what a lot of people see is how gritty, tough and determined Causer is, proven by the fact he pushed through a side strain to not just play in the preliminary and grand finals but shoulder a heavy load with the ball and thrive.

He is reported to have officially called time on his top grade career following last weekend's win and his 2018-19 season, with 30 scalps at 14.13, is a pretty handy way to go out if he does decide to hang up the baggy bottle and white.

GAMES: 11 | OVERS: 107 | WICKETS: 19 | AVE: 17.68 | STR: 33.79 | 5WI: 2 | BEST: 5-18

He was actually a tick further down the wicket-takers list than some others who could've taken this spot, but we felt compelled to pick him based on the fact he bowled substantially less overs than those others and took two five-wicket hauls with a stellar average.

It's basically a selection on potential, too.

Kinross had a difficult year, Taylor did not, and we're predicting big things for this young quick, who's beginning to generate some serious gas.

Without trying to put too much pressure on the young bloke, he actually reminds of a young Chris Tremain in many ways.