Run machine Jake Winter claims inaugural Champion Player of the Season award — with a wicket
He became only the fourth player to crack 1000 runs in a season but it was a maiden first-grade wicket that clinched Glenelg’s Jake Winter the inaugural The Advertiser/Kookaburra Champion Player of the Season award.
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He broke a club runs record and became only the fourth player to crack 1000 runs in a season.
But it was a maiden first-grade wicket that clinched Glenelg’s Jake Winter the inaugural The Advertiser/Kookaburra Champion Player of the Season award.
“That’s pretty ironic,’’ said Winter, 21.
“I don’t bowl too much so I've got to thank (Redback) Conor McInerney for letting me get him out (caught).’’
Winter's sole wicket with his right-arm medium-pacers against Woodville in round nine was enough to give him the extra 20 points he needed to hold off fast-finishing Adelaide University all-rounder Sam Kerber to win the SACA Premier Cricket champion player award.
One point was awarded for a run and 20 for a wicket.
In a hotly-contested race, Redbacks rookie Winter finished with 1068 points to edge Kerber by 11.
Kensington captain Jake Brown was third with 1021 points ahead of Adelaide allrounder Ben Pengelley (1004) and West Torrens skipper Kelvin Smith (984).
Winter wins a $2000 Kookaburra kit as player of the season.
The right-handed opening batsman enjoyed a season for the ages.
He made 1048 runs, smashing the Seahorses club record previously held by former South Australian first-class batsman David Fitzgerald, who made 928 in 1996-97.
Only three other players have ever made 1000 runs in a first-grade season — Port Adelaide’s Dave Pritchard in 1928-29 (1023 runs) and Salisbury’s Barry Causby in 1976-77 (1024) and
Noel Fielke in 1991-92 (1102).
Winter averaged a remarkable 104.80 in 12 innings, including four centuries and four fifties.
His unbeaten 233 against Woodville also is a club record, beating former Australian Test batsman Andrew Hilditch’s record of 228 against Prospect in 1985-86.
Winter went big this season, also making 184 against Adelaide University in round six and 176 against Adelaide in round five.
“I had an average start to the season so it was nice to go on and make some big scores when I got going,’’ he said.
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