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Young all-rounder Cameron Green has capped off a stunning summer of cricket, awarded the Laurie Sawle Medal as the fairest and best Western Australian male cricketer for the 2020-21 season.
The 21 year old won the award for the first time, polling 123 votes for a season that saw him score 922 runs at 76 in Sheffield Shield cricket as well as 210 runs at 42.00 in the 50 over Marsh Cup competition, scoring four centuries across the two formats to help win WA cricket's highest individual honour.
Green made his Test and ODI debuts against India in December, capping a meteoric rise to the highest level that commenced as a 17 year old in 2016-17 when he claimed a five wicket haul on first class debut against Tasmania in Hobart.
Green won the award from wicket keeper Josh Inglis (99 votes) and veteran Shaun Marsh, who polled 84 votes.
The young gun said he was privleged to win the award, named after former Western Australian player and former Australian chairman of selectors Laurie Sawle.
"This award means a lot to me. I'm delighted to win this award, and to recieve it from Shaun Marsh who will go down as one of the greats of WA cricket made it even sweeter." Green said.
Nicole Bolton saltuted as the Zoe Goss medalist for a fifth time, solidifying her place as one of WA's greatest female cricketers in a pandemic hit season.
The stylish left-hand batter polled a total 324 votes, comfortably ahead of Perth Scorchers star recruit Beth Mooney (237) and Mathilda Carmichael (233) to see a fifth Zoë Goss Medal draped around her neck.
The 33-year-old finished the Women’s National Cricket League season as the State’s leading wicket-taker alongside teammate Emma King, with 10 wickets and produced best figures of 3-33.
Bolton crowned her stellar year with an unbeaten century in WA’s final WNCL fixture at the WACA Ground, the highlight of the 264 runs she amassed at an average 37.71 over her eight matches.
Bolton’s recent success also saw her pick up back-to-back WA WNCL Player of the Year awards.
Joel Paris, one of the country’s leading fast bowlers in one-day cricket, claimed his first WA One-Day Player of the Year award. Paris took 10 wickets and finished with best figures of 4-21.
Perth Scorchers speedster and the Big Bash League’s leading wicket-taker Jhye Richardson claimed back-to-back Simon Katich medals, while star opener Beth Mooney was named the Scorchers WBBL Player of the Year.
Richardson claimed a League-best 29 wickets, five clear of his nearest rival, while Mooney proved unstoppable with the blade and topped the competition’s runs table with 551. Both players were named in their respective Team of the Tournament.
Opening batsman Sam Whiteman and young all-rounder Sheldyn Cooper were awarded the Excalibur and Legacy awards respectively for best upholding the standard and spirit of Western Australian cricket, while Cooper doubled up as the Female Rising Star, Lance Morris recognised for his breakout season as the Male rising star winner.
The WACA also paid tribute to Emma King who called time on her incredible 12-year professional cricket career. The star off-spinner took 78 wickets in the WNCL competition and claimed 49 wickets with best figures of 3-17 in her 68 matches for the Perth Scorchers.
Cricket legends Michael Hussey, Peta Verco and Karen Read were formally inducted into the WA Cricket Gallery of Greats.
IMAGE: Cricket Australia.