Wes Agar sweeps the Neil Dansie, Sheffield Shield and most improved medals
One of Australia’s most exciting young cricketers and a consistent Scorpions all-rounder have dominated the state cricket awards, announced on Thursday evening.
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Wes Agar has capped a breakout first class season by sweeping the Redbacks state awards, announced on Thursday, while Tahlia McGrath collected successive Andrea McCauley medals.
Speedster Agar – anointed Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the Allan Border Medal in February – added the Neil Dansie gong for South Australia’s best domestic player to his 2019-20 honours.
Agar, 23, polled 101 points across the domestic competitions, 13 ahead of veteran batsmen Callum Ferguson (88) and Tom Cooper (75).
Agar returned from two years in Victoria’s system hoping for a one-day or Sheffield Shield debut but excelled in both competitions with 140km/h pace and awkward bounce troubling batsmen.
Agar finished equal second on the Sheffield Shield wicket tally with Strikers teammate Michael Neser on 33 to earn the Lord Hampden Trophy for best Shield player. Queensland’s Cameron Gannon claimed a competition high 38 wickets.
Agar’s back-to-back five-wicket hauls weren’t enough to pip Ferguson for one-day MVP but sealed a Barry Jarman most improved medal. Middle-order finisher Jon Wells won the Strikers MVP through a league average of 68.28 ahead of superstar leg-spinner Rashid Khan.
McGrath took captaincy in her stride for the Scorpions in Megan Schutt’s absence with a team high 13 wickets and 261 runs in the top order. All-rounder McGrath’s second McCauley medal follows the WNCL most improved award this season.
Sophie Devine’s power hitting ensured the Kiwi import was a runaway winner in the women’s Strikers MVP. All-rounder Devine smashed 769 runs at 76.9 including nine half centuries. Devine crunched five consecutive sixes against Melbourne Stars at Karen Rolton Oval.