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.

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