Lachie Kidd named BPCA’s Ray Menzies Medallist after standout season for Queenscliff

A barnstorming comeback to win BPCA’s top honour was the last thing on a 19 year old’s mind as he backed his star teammate in to claim the award.

WHEN he strapped on his pads and walked out to the centre to start each innings, Lachie Kidd knew there was no pressure on him.

The Queenscliff opening batter would stride out alongside close friend and teammate Tim Frankenberg, with the pair forming a formidable duo envied around the BPCA.

Kidd, who was awarded the Ray Menzies Medal after scoring 425 runs (average 35.42) and taking 17 wickets (average 22.94) in 2021-22, said he felt safe with Frankenberg at the other end.

“Tim and I had a few really nice partnerships throughout the year, it’s always good batting with him,” Kidd said.

Cricket BPCA A1: Jan Juc v Queenscliff. Queenscliff bowler Lachie Kidd sends one down to Jan Juc batsman Jordi Withers Picture: Mark Wilson

“Having that relationship at the top of the order where you trust your partner is really important.

“He’s a great batter, throughout the (Ray Menzies Medal) count I was cheering for Tim to get over the line because he had such a great season.”

Kidd did not give himself much of a chance to take home the prestigious award, with the 19-year-old sitting on just five votes halfway through the season.

But a late change of form with the bat gave Kidd a late surge with votes, scoring 49, 45, an unbeaten 88 and 76 to storm home and claim a one-vote lead over Jan Juc’s Ben Grinter and Anglesea’s Ned Cooper.

Kidd said he was surprised to pull off the comeback to break Dale Kerr’s streak of four Ray Menzies medals.

“It was pretty sick to beat Cooper and Grinter, I was not expecting anything,” Kidd said.

Cricket BPCA A1: Jan Juc v Queenscliff. Queenscliff bowler Lachie Kidd Picture: Mark Wilson

“I thought I might make team of the year if I was lucky, I had a strong finish to the year with the bat and a strong start with the ball, when you make a few runs the votes come.

“I don’t know what changed, you go through those phases of form where you’re making no runs then you’re making runs for fun, there was definitely a bit of a change for me.”

Despite the prestigious honour, an elusive premiership still evades Kidd.

He said the semi-final loss to Jan Juc stung.

“I thought we had the team this year to do it, but obviously you can’t really say that when you don’t do it,” Kidd said.

“But we’re only going to get stronger because we’re a young side, hopefully we can stick together and get better as a team.”

Kidd of the world: BPCA’s cricket awards revealed

The region’s best and brightest cricket stars were recognised with a bevy of awards after some outstanding seasons.

Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association held its annual awards night to recognise Geelong’s top performers in the 2021-22 season.

Lachie Kidd, who finished 12th overall for individual wickets and sixth for runs in A1, won the Ray Menzies Medal for his outstanding season.

Kidd took 17 wickets at an average of 22.94, and made 425 runs at an average of 35.42 for his Queenscliff side.

Cricket BPCA A1: Jan Juc v Queenscliff. Queenscliff bowler Lachie Kidd Picture: Mark Wilson

Queenscliff finished third in the top grade, but fell to Jan Juc in the semi finals.

St Leonards’ Cam Egan took out the leading wicket taker for the competition with 30 scalps at an average of 9.50, while Ned Cooper scored the most runs with 686 at an average of 98.00.

Dylan Flanigan led the A2 division with the bat, scoring 568 runs at an average of 63.11, and also won the Ian Caldwell Medal with Blake Dobbin from Portarlington, while Winchelsea’s Matthew Partridge was the leading bowler in the competition with 27 wickets at an average of 9.96.

Drysdale’s Bailey Sykes was named the emerging player of the year and was awarded the George Malcolm Award, while Darren Fox was given the Billy Bell Medal for being the association’s top umpire.

Anglesea was awarded the Ron Lloyd Club Championship, while Wallington received the Ron Birch Shield for embodying the spirit of cricket.

Life membership was awarded to Keith Adams and Adrian Cobb.

A1 Grade

Ray Menzies Medal: Lachie Kidd (Queenscliff)

Bowling Award: Cam Egan (St Leonards)

Batting Award: Ned Cooper (Anglesea)

BPCA A1: Anglesea v Ocean Grove

A2 Grade

Ian Caldwell Medal: Dylan Flanigan (Armstrong Creek) and Blake Dobbin (Portarlington)

Bowling Award: Matthew Partridge (Winchelsea)

Batting Award: Dylan Flanigan (Armstrong Creek)

BPCA A2: St Leonards v Winchelsea. St Leonards Lake Reserve. Winchelsea bowler Matthew Partridge. Picture: Mike Dugdale

B1 Grade

Ron Evan Medal: Nathan Taylor (Ocean Grove)

Bowling Award: Ryan Parkinson (Armstrong Creek)

Batting Award: Darcy Cooper (Anglesea)

B2 Grade

Barry Cox Medal: Paul McGrath (Portarlington)

Bowling Award: Jamie Morgan (Portarlington)

Batting Award: Daniel Burrows (Little River)

C1 Grade

Robert Pipan Medal: Marc Occhipinti (Wallington)

Bowling Award: Zac Pahl (Barrabool)

Batting Award: Greg Scarpa (Ocean Grove)

D Grade

John Dunne Medal: Russell Potter (Drysdale)

Bowling Award: James Kernot (Jan Juc)

Batting Award: Todd Rosewell (Jan Juc)

BPCA A2: Drysdale v Armstrong Creek at Drysdale. Drysdale bowler Bailey Sykes celebrates taking the wicket of Armstrong Creek's Cameron Chishlom, caught and bowled for 1. Picture: Mike Dugdale

George Malcolm Award: Bailey Sykes (Drysdale)

Billy Bell Medal: Darren Fox

Ron Lloyd Club Championship: Anglesea

Spirit of Cricket Ron Birch Shield: Wallington

BPCA Life Membership: Keith Adams and Adrian Cobb

Originally published as Lachie Kidd named BPCA’s Ray Menzies Medallist after standout season for Queenscliff