Mick Allen claims the GDCA Sullivan Medal in his return season
Gisborne’s Mick Allen was the only player to finish top five in both runs scored and wickets taken this GDCA McIntyre Shield season but he was still surprised to be awarded the league’s best-and-fairest medal.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A season off has worked wonders for a Gisborne’s Mick Allen after he was crowned the Gisborne District Cricket Association’s Sullivan medallist for 2019-20.
The Dragons all-rounder claimed the McIntyre Shield best-and-fairest following a sublime season that saw him finish top four in both runs scored and wickets.
Having stepped down as captain-coach of Riddell after the 2017-18 season, Allen took 12 months off before signing at Gardiner Reserve.
GDCA: GISBORNE AWARDED McINTYRE SHIELD FLAG
LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL CRICKET NEWS HERE
BEST OF: LOCAL CRICKET’S SUMMER SIZZLERS
A “refreshed” Allen proceeded to plunder 599 runs at an average of 45.69 as Gisborne rolled through the home-and-away season undefeated.
The wily veteran added 22 wickets at 12.95 with an economy rate of just 2.27.
“It was a bit of a surprise but a good one,” Allen said of his Sullivan Medal win.
“It was good to just be able to play – no coaching, no captaincy – to come in and just be one of the boys.
“We had some handy recruits as well, so you knew if you did miss out you had guys around you. It allowed me to play with a bit more freedom, more naturally.”
Allen polled 20 votes to finish five clear of Bacchus Marsh skipper James Lidgett and Sunbury United’s Dilan Chandima, both on 15 votes.
Simon Harman (2008-09) was the last Dragon to claim the competition’s highest individual honour.
A blistering 183 against his former club in Round 11 was the highlight of Allen’s season, while he claimed back-to-back four-wicket hauls in the final two games of the home-and-away campaign.
“I’ve always been a batsman and I’ve always said if there was one person I’d love to face it would be myself,” Allen joked.
“I used to keep when I was younger, even in Premier Cricket, and bowling is something that’s evolved – it’s more bluff than anything.”
The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic forced the GDCA to call off its grand finals and award the McIntyre Cup premiership to Gisborne.
Allen said a flag was just reward for the Dragons’ season and he was looking forward to getting stuck in again in 2020-21.
“We’ve all said we would have loved to have played the grand final and won it properly,” he said.
“I’ll definitely go around again next year and then we’ll take it one year at a time.
“I’ve been going to the gym every week so that I can keep up with the young fellas. I’m 40 this year so it doesn’t get any easier.”