Theo Doropoulos takes out Jack Ryder Medal for 2011

In a glittering night at the Crown Palladium, the state's finest cricketers and clubs were celebrated at the annual Cricket Victoria Gala Awards.

Taking out the prestigious Jack Ryder Medal for 2011, Northcote Cricket Club’s Theo Doropoulos, was awarded by his peers, Premier Cricketer of the season.

The 25-year old relocated to Melbourne from Perth this summer and made an immediate impact.

The former WA Warrior had an outstanding season, making 672 runs and taking 25 wickets. His sensational 128 not-out at Barooga in the Country Round was scored off just 67 balls.

Doropoulos polled votes in nine matches, one more than any other player and polled 39 votes to win by four from Casey-South Melbourne’s Somerset import, Peter Trego, on 35, with Fitzroy Doncaster skipper, Lloyd Mash, third on 31 votes.

In the wake of yet another successful season of Victorian Cricket, the state’s elite teams the DEC Bushrangers and DEC Spirit, were also acknowledged for their efforts – both taking out titles in various formats of the game, with Dandenong CC celebrated for their Premiership win against Frankston Peninsula.

Other accolades presented on the night included:

WM Lawry Medal – Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Player of the Season – Robert Quiney

A consistent season with the bat has seen Robert Quiney claim the Bill Lawry Medal as Victoria’s First Class Player of the Year. Quiney has cemented his position as a middle order batsman with 724 runs at an average of 42.58 this season including two centuries.

Quiney was named in the Johnnie Walker ACA four-day Team of the Year and was also awarded the 2010/11 prestigious John Scholes Medal as voted by his team mates.

DM Jones Medal – Ryobi One Day Cup Player of the Season – Brad Hodge

Coming off the back of yet another great Ryobi One-Day Cup season to claim his fourth Dean Jones Medal, Hodge also walked away as the tournament’s highest run scorer.

Posting a mammoth 560 runs in the one day format alone, Hodge was also named Player of the Series at the State Cricket Awards luncheon held earlier this month.

KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Player of the Season – Aaron Finch

Hard-hitting top order powerhouse, Aaron Finch has been awarded this year’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Player of the Season. Finch was by far, Victoria’s best batsman pilling on 222 runs in just five games.

Finch’s meteoric rise has seen him go from a fringe player only two seasons ago to representing Australia in front of a vocal home crowd in January,

Finch’s dominance in this award was highlighted by the fact that he was the only Victorian player selected in the Johnnie walker ACA Interstate Twenty20 Team of the Year.

Sharon Tredrea Award – Rachael Haynes

DEC Spirit Captain, Rachael Haynes has claimed her first Sharon Tredrea Award as the DEC Spirit’s WNCL Player of the season for 2010/11.

Haynes compiled 284 runs at an average of 56.80 (with two half centuries and a top score of 132) the middle order bat has also been prominent in the national side, compiling 265 runs and boasting a strike rate of 71.00. 

Cathryn Fitzpatrick Twenty20 Victorian Player of the Year 2010/11

Dubbed as the next big thing to come out of Australian Women’s Cricket, batting powerhouse Meg Lanning has taken out the Cathryn Fitzpatrick Award for the DEC Spirit Twenty20 Player of the Season.

Finishing the season with an enormous 402 runs in the T20 format alone at an average of 50.25, Lanning was instrumental in driving the Spirit to both the WNCL T20 and 50-over finals this season.

Commonwealth Bank Future Stars 2010/11 – Molly Strano and Dylan Kight

Handy all-rounder Strano made the DEC Spirit rookie list for season 2010/11 and was also selected into the Victorian CA Women’s Cup team which competed in the ACT. The vice-captain of the Victorian U18 team shined with the ball at the National Championships in Adelaide early on this year taking 15 wickets. Strano’s leading wicket-taking efforts saw her named as Bowler of the Tournament and her efforts over the last year front lined her to take out the Female CBA Future Star Award.

Kight, who has also represented the Western Spirit U16 and U18 regional teams, was also selected into the Victorian U19 team this season and boasts that achievement as one of his proudest cricketing moments. The wicketkeeper/batsman recently scored 63 against Richmond and is dedicated to improving his game throughout the off season.

Both Strano and Kight received a $1000 prize each  from the Commonwealth Bank.

J.A Seitz Club Championship

Geelong CC has won the JA Seitz CV Club Championship for the first time – a fantastic achievement by the Cats. Geelong tallied 554.1 points (penalty overs in the 2nds if you’re wondering!) to win from St Kilda (545), Carlton (478), Prahran (476) and Fitzroy Doncaster (462).

The win was worth $6,000 to the Cats who along with St Kilda, were the only two clubs to have all four grades participating in the finals series.

Spirit of Cricket

Essendon CC has won the Spirit of Cricket Club Award for the first time. The Bombers averaged 8.24 out of 10 across all four elevens for the season to be narrow winners from Melbourne Uni (8.19), Carlton (8.16), Ringwood (8.15) and Northcote (8.14).

The award provides a great impetus for the club. Although the Bombers only made the 2^nd XI finals, the Spirit of Cricket Club Award reflects well on the captains and the administration. Well done to Craig Berger, Scott Bryant, David Tate and John Shannon who have skippered the various sides at different times.

2^nd XI Player of the Season 2010/11 – Hagan Shakespeare (Northcote)

The 2^nd XI Player of the Season is Northcote’s Hagan Shakespeare. Shakespeare polled 25 votes to win by two from Richmond’s Matt Shimell, with Melbourne’s Max Tomkinson two votes further back in third place. Shakespeare scored 424 runs @ 25, with top scores of 62 against Carlton, 54 against Melbourne Uni and 50 against the Kangaroos. His 25 votes were all polled before Christmas, but he retained his lead until the end of the season.

3^rd XI Player of the Season 2010/11 – Chris O’Brien (Ringwood)

Ringwood’s Chris O’Brien has won the 3^rd XI Player of the Season, polling 24 votes to win by one from Geelong’s L Boyd, with Daniel Bolton, also from the Cats, a further vote away third. O’Brien was the early leader, with 12 votes after Round 4, but Boyd and Bolton took over the lead after Round 15. A match-winning performance of 38no and 5/43 against the Magpies secured maximum votes for Chris in Round 16 and he retained his one vote lead in Round 17, despite going into the 2nds as a replacement player. For the season, Chris scored 210 runs @ 23.3, with a top-score of 67 against the Lions, and took 26 wickets @ 16.7. O’Brien previously won the 4ths Player of the Season two years ago, when he skippered the Rams’ 4ths into the finals.

4^th XI Player of the Season 2010/11 – Alistair Boughton (Northcote)

Northcote 4^th XI skipper, Alistair polled 21 votes to win by two from Carlton captain Ben Pickles on 19. Equal third were Melbourne’s David Bratby and Camberwell Magpies’ Daniel Evans on 18 votes. Alistair’s best figures were 6/33 against Uni, 4/22 against Casey-SM, 4/58 against the Hawks, 3/6 against the Saints and 3/7 against Dandenong.

Umpire Milestone Achievement Award

Darrell Holt (500 matches round 8)

Peter Smith (300 matches round 16)

David Jones (200 matches round 15)

Paul Jensen (500 matches round 14)

Russ Turner (300 matches round 13)

Paul Balesia (200 matches round 5)

Bill Sheahan (500 matches quarter final)

John Ward (300 matches KFC T20)

Ash Borrow (200 matches KFC T20)

Bob Parry (400 matches Sheffield Shield)

Bill Ellemor (300 matches round 16)

Brad Davies (100 matches round 10)

Umpiring Service Recognition Award – Darrell Holt

Currently in his 31^st season on the CV Premier Umpire’s Panel, Holt recently became the first CV official to reach the magical 500 game milestone.

Umpiring a total of 506 Premier matches, Holt is also an umpire educator and has assisted the NWCA set up a junior umpiring panel to assist teenager umpire junior cricket matches before heading off to play in their own.

Holt’s commitment and professionalism sets a great example for aspiring officials to follow.

Premier Team of the Season

The Premier Team of the Season is selected by the Victorian State Selectors (John MacWhirter, Ray Bright, Greg Shipperd and Andrew Lynch) and the Premier Cricket Manager (Peter Binns), with input also from the State Selection Advisory Panel (Graeme Rummans, Graeme Joslin, Brendan McArdle, Mark Ridgway and Adam Dale). 12 players are selected and named in batting order, together with a captain, however no twelfth man is nominated.

The 2010-11 Premier Team of the Season comprises:

Andrew Kent                     (Melb – Capt)

Peter Handscomb              (St K)

Simon Hill                           (C-Mag)

Theo Doropoulos               (Ncte)

Lloyd Mash                         (F-Donc)

Neil Schlittler                      (Prah)

Nathan Pilon                      (Carl)

Peter Trego                       (Casey-SM)

Bryce McGain                     (Prah)

Brad Robertson                  (F-Edge)

Marc Carson                       (Geel)

Nick Austin                         (Carl)