Wests duo share TCI’s top honour

WESTERN Districts were the big winners as Toowoomba Cricket announced its award winners for season 2019/20.

Sam Neale (back, far right) and Shaun McCarthy (front, far right) have been named TCI Players of the Year. Photo: Allyson Gardner

CRICKET: Shaun McCarthy and Sam Neale have shared in Toowoomba Cricket’s top honour, with the Western Districts duo sharing the Player of the Year award.

It marks the first time since the 2007/8 season that the competition has had joint winners, with Metropolitan-Easts teammates Troy Gurski and Adam Marjoribanks sharing the gong.

In an incredible feat for Wests, batsman Brian May finished third in voting, giving the club the top three of the year.

The award is compiled from the votes of captains and umpires throughout the two-day season, and from the Harding Madsen Shield as well.

Regarded as one of the premier bowlers in the region, the award is a fitting reward for McCarthy.

Throughout the season he took 35 wickets at an average of 10.89, including best figures of 7/17 to finish as the competition’s leading wicket taker.

“He’s claimed the representative player of the year a number of times and this is a reward for his hard work,” TCI president Angus Rathie said.

“Whenever he has represented Queensland Country he has brought that knowledge back and shared it among his teammates.

“You can see the improvement in Shaun every year.”

For Neale, this title adds to his leading runscorer award (690 runs at 62.73).

He was also named Representative Player of the Year, capping off a memorable 12 months for the 17-year-old.
“Sam has had a tremendous year,” Rathie said.

“It’s been a big season with the Queensland U19s team and then Queensland Country.

“We wish him all the best down in Brisbane, and he will be a great addition to whichever club he chooses. He’s a level-headed kid too.”

Rathie said it was disappointing that they weren't able to celebrate the season with the presentation, however hopes that cricket can come back strong for next summer.

“Cricket has been fairly lucky that we’ve been able to get deep into our competitions and get the round fixtures sorted out,” he said.

“It’s certainly a bit of a let down to not have the presentation, but we hope that things will improve and continue into next summer.”

Western Districts’ season to remember didn’t stop there, with the club awarded the Norm Jenner Spirt of Cricket Trophy (respect of opponents, umpires and the game) and claiming the Tom Allen Memorial Cup Club Championship.

Neale’s swag of awards didn’t end there, with the young gun also claiming the U21 Colt of the Year.

Northern Brothers Diggers’ Kris Glass and Wests’ John Coveney were named Best and Fairest across all grades.

The pair accumulated six votes each to share the honour.

Across the representative scene, Michael Evans (University) was named as the best from the Davis Shield and James Bidgood (University) was the standout from the Mitchell Shield campaign.

Glass took out another award, named as the best from the Bulls Masters and Schaeffer Shield.

Toowoomba made it back-to-back wins in the Schaeffer Shield earlier in the season.

FINAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS: Shaun McCarthy and Sam Neale 25 votes, Brian May 23, Kris Glass 19, Pieter van der Kooij 14, Andre Odendaal 13, Dan Brown 12, Jace Hudson 11, Luke Neale 11, Alex Taylor 11, Harjinder Dhillon 10, Ricky Smith 10

TCI TEAM OF THE YEAR

Sam Neale

Ricky Sutton

Brian May

Kris Glass

Luke Neale (c)

Alex Taylor

Brandon Walker (wk)

Ricky Smith

Shaun McCarthy

Andre Odendaal

Connor Philp

Harjinder Dhillon

Originally published as