Klinger sweeps South Australia awards

Michael Klinger has justified his move from Victoria to South Australia by being named the best player across all formats in his adopted state in 2008-09. Klinger's first season with South Australia culminated in the Redbacks' top prize, the Neil Dansie Medal, which he won with 300 votes ahead of the second-placed Callum Ferguson on 218.

Klinger's phenomenal season brought him 1203 Sheffield Shield runs at 70.76, first in the competition ahead of Victoria's Chris Rogers, who like Klinger won the top prize in his first year at his new state. Klinger also received the Lord Hampden Trophy for the best Redbacks player in the Sheffield Shield and shared the limited-overs award with Ferguson.

In the FR Cup, Klinger was the state's top scorer with 469 runs at 52.11 while Ferguson collected 406 at 45.11 and made his one-day international debut at the tail-end of the summer. Daniel Harris won the Barry Jarman Trophy and Kris Britt picked up the Andrea McCauley Trophy as the most outstanding South Australia player in the Women's National Cricket League.

After a string of disappointing seasons, the Redbacks made solid progress in 2008-09 and finished third in both the Sheffield Shield and FR Cup. Jamie Cox, the SACA high performance manager, commended the players for their increased maturity during the summer.

"Many of those recognsied tonight have stepped up into new roles both on and off the field," Cox said. "It has been a watershed year for the Redbacks. Under the leadership of coach, Mark Sorell and captain, Graham Manou the squad has demonstrated the grit and determination needed to earn back the respect of fans and competitors."