Stead wins major award (9 April 1999)
Gary Stead's remarkable rise from fighting for his provincial place last season to making a creditable debut for the Black Caps against South Africa, was marked by his naming as the Canterbury Player of the Year
09-Apr-1999
9 April 1999
Stead wins major award
Geoff Longley
Gary Stead's remarkable rise from fighting for his provincial place
last season to making a creditable debut for the Black Caps against
South Africa, was marked by his naming as the Canterbury Player of
the Year.
Stead, 27, took over as Canterbury captain this season from Lee
Germon and has relished the added responsibility, leading by example.
He had the highest aggregate in New Zealand for the Shell Cup season,
468 runs at 52. He was instrumental in Canterbury regaining the cup
this season with a match-winning innings of 84 in the final against
Wellington, as wickets fell about him.
In three Shell Trophy appearances, Stead scored 176 runs at 44 and he
then made 70 for New Zealand A against the Proteas which propelled
him into the test line-up.
Stead also received the batsman of the year accolade at Canterbury
Cricket's provincial awards function last night.
He hopes to further his unforgettable year by gaining inclusion in
the New Zealand team which tours England after the World Cup, being
one of seven players on stand-by.
The women's player and batsman of the year is also the Canterbury
captain, Debbie Hockley, who had yet another outstanding season with
bat and ball, leading the team to the national title. Hockley scored
514 runs at 73.
The men's bowler of the year is right-arm fast-medium bowler Chris
Martin. Martin, 24, only made his provincial debut last summer and
this season consolidated that good early impression getting among the
wickets with some hostile spells.
He topped the Canterbury averages in the Shell Trophy with 19 wickets
at 19.36, while he led the national averages in the Shell Cup with 11
wickets at 15.63.
The women's bowler of the year is pace bowler Katrina Withers, who
reversed a decision on her availability early in the season in time
to capture 15 wickets at just 9.4.
Craig Cumming and Helen Watson won the respective fielding prizes.
A special presentation was made to Mark Priest who claimed the
Canterbury wicket-taking record, heading Sir Richard Hadlee (285).
Left-arm spinner Priest finished his 14th season, and 88th match in
Canterbury colours, with 290 wickets at 29.3.
All told, he has delivered 21,413 balls (3568.5 overs), bowled 1066
maidens and conceded 8501 runs. He took five wickets in an innings 12
times and 10 wickets in a match three times.
Meanwhile successful Canterbury selection panel conveners, Brian
McKechnie and Brigit Hearn, are standing down after five and four
seasons in charge respectively.
Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)