Brazier selected in Australian team
Papua New Guinea's Jamie Brazier was rewarded for his outstanding performances for East Asia - Pacific (EAP XI) at the recent Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) with selection in the Australian Country Cricket Team.
Papua New Guinea's Jamie Brazier was rewarded for his outstanding performances for East Asia - Pacific (EAP XI) at the recent Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) with selection in the Australian Country Cricket Team.
The team was announced at the Championship presentation dinner, where Queensland Country were also presented with the Cricket Australia Shield as the Championship winners, after remaining undefeated throughout the 12-day tournament.
Brazier was EAP's most dominant player amassing 323 runs for the tournament at an average of 53.8. He also snared 7 wickets at 19.14 runs a piece with his off spinners and claimed three catches in the slips cordon. His tournament run tally placed him in third place overall behind Queensland Country's Brian May (387 runs) and Victoria Country's Sam Ahmet (362 runs).
"I am honoured to be selected in the Australian Country Team" commented Brazier after the announcement. "There were many excellent players at the tournament and I am thrilled to be named alongside the best cricketers in country Australia."
Brazier's selection followed a competitive EAP XI team performance during the ACCC, played in humid conditions in Lismore, NSW over the first two weeks of January. The team lost all five games but were competitive in each outing with some high quality cricket played at various times by EAP team members.
"Our batters consistently got started but were unable to turn 15s and 20s into a 70 or 80" commented EAP XI Coach Martin Gleeson. "The overall lack of individual big scores meant our first innings totals were in the 150-180 range rather than giving our bowlers 220 plus to bowl at."
"On the positive side, our bowling was frugal and consistent with our ground fielding as good as any side in the competition" continued Mr Gleeson, "All players received a great experience in playing hard, consistent cricket on turf wickets and were exposed to a very high standard of competition against the best cricketers in country Australia."
Brazier was also rewarded for his efforts receiving the EAP batting award. Opening bowler Hitolo Areni received the bowling award, Chris Amini was adjudged the team's best fielder and Dunu Eliaba and Andrew Mansale shared the Best Team Man Award. All awards consisted of cricket equipment donated by cricket manufacturer Willow Wizard.
Western Australia Country was announced as the inaugural winner of the Spirit of Cricket Team Award with Queensland's Brian May winning the individual Spirit of Cricket award. Both awards were introduced this year and donated by the ICC East Asia - Pacific Region.
Australian Country Cricket Championships Awards
Australian Country Cricket Team Brian May (c) Queensland Country David Else Queensland Country Sam Ahmet Victoria Country Wade Frazer Queensland Country Steve Mudford New South Wales Country Jamie Brazier East Asia - Pacific Steven Baker Queensland Country Ben Woolmer New South Wales Country Brad Hauenstein Victoria Country Andy Paltridge South Australia Country Ben Cust Queensland Country Jason Stein Queensland Country
Batsman Of The Series Brian May Queensland Country
Bowler Of The Series Ben Woolmer New South Wales Country
Fieldsman Award Steven Baker Queensland Country
Player Of The Series Brian May Queensland Country Ben Woolmer New South Wales Country
Spirit Of Cricket Award Team Award Western Australia Country Individual Award Brian May (Queensland Country)
EAP XI Awards Batting Award Jamie Brazier Bowling Award Hitolo Areni Fielding Award Chris Amini Best Team Man Award Dunu Eliaba / Andrew Mansale