Luke Shelton caps top season in style with Ralph Wiese Medal win

DARWIN Cricket Club’s Luke Shelton is proof that hard work can get you a long way

Darwin Cricket Club spin bowler Luke Shelton celebrates another wicket. PICTURE: Justin Kennedy

DARWIN Cricket Club’s Luke Shelton is proof that hard work can get you a long way.

In just his second year as a left-arm spinner, Shelton took out the Ralph Wiese Medal with a Premier Grade-best 53 wickets in the regular season.

He was also outstanding with the bat, making 711 runs throughout the regular season and playing a major role in getting his team to compete for a second-straight grand final victory, against Tracy Village at the Marrara Cricket Ground this weekend.

Shelton is only in his second year as a spinner, with injuries suffered as a paceman seeing him shift to slow bowling.

He has excelled under the tutelage of former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Sohan Boralessa at the Eagles.

Boralessa is also a left-arm orthodox bowler and Shelton has worked tirelessly with him honing his skills over the past two years.

As outstanding as he was, this could be Shelton’s last season in Darwin, as he is relocating to Tasmania over the summer to play for New Town as he chases his dream of playing first-class cricket. But last night was all about celebrating Shelton’s magnificent breakout season for Darwin.

“Ever since I landed at the doorstep of Darwin three years ago I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” a humble Shelton – who played his junior cricket in Melbourne – said after winning the award.

“To top this off with another (grand final) win this weekend would be fantastic.”

Meanwhile, the Premier Grade Cricketer of the Year award went to Waratah all-rounder Brad Schmulian.

Waratah suffered a fall from grace this year, missing out on the finals after making last year’s grand final.

But Schmulian had a brilliant season, with 759 Premier Grade runs and 43 wickets bowling leg spin.

Darwin was awarded the Club Championship award, based on excellent performances through all grades and age groups this year.

They also won Premier Grade’s minor premiership and Spirit of Cricket awards.

The Margaret Coady Memorial Award is presented for services to Darwin cricket and was awarded to Cheryl Owens from Southern Districts.

Other major awards went to Matthew Hammond (Southern Districts – Premier Grade fielding award) and Southern Districts (Bob Vowles Curator’s Award).

In the lower grades, the players of the year were:

Shane Moon (B-grade – Southern Districts), Michael Rowe (C-Grade – Waratah), Yuvi Sinnavairan (D-grade – Tracy Village) and Ben Hoffmann (E-grade – University).