…by the Cricket Writers of Ireland just a few days after he had picked up the Radio Foyle Award again as the North-West Player of the Year, caps another memorable year in the long career of a remarkable cricketer.
Brothers Junior, James and Roy McBrine are legends in North-West cricket, and the McBrine name has a long and distinguished history far and beyond their beloved Holm at Donemana. But when Junior finally packs away the pads sometime in the future, it will surely be his name that sits proudly as the greatest of them all, in this amazing cricket dynasty. Not that the quiet unassuming twin covets any award, as there are fewer more modest cricketers than Junior McBrine.
There has been a series of awards in recent weeks as the dinner circuit gathers momentum, but the announcement of the inaugural Cricket Writers Awards were eagerly awaited as they are arguably the most prestigious individual awards in Irish cricket, and voted by a membership that covers a wide section of media and associates. The selection of Andre Botha was very appropriate although Kyle McCallan and Niall O’Brien must have run him close. All three had exceptional seasons, and such is the calibre of the best performers in CricketIreland these days, that we have three outstanding candidates to pick from. Andre has been a superb performer with bat and ball since he made his Irish debut, and he would surely have played county cricket had he not fallen in love in Ireland and withIreland. His club heroics for North Countyhave also been phenomenal, and in captaining them to another Irish Senior Cup win, he added another notch to his long list of personal achievements.
Also well done young Paul Stirling in winning the Young Player of the Year. Sometimes we forget how young Paul is, and how much he has achieved in such a short time. Hopefully he has a terrific career ahead if he continues in the same vein. The same could be said forNorth County’s young fast bowler Eddie Richardson, who won the CricketEurope bursary and will spend nine days at a cricket clinic in India.
We all have our views on awards, but overall they reward special achievements, and they can give the game a huge publicity boost if they are promoted properly. Cricket needs all the positive publicity it can get and over the past few weeks, union award ceremonies and club dinners have been widely promoted. But do the awards cover all the important contributors to the local and national game?
For example, it there a place for a Groundsman Award to honour an unsung hero who works tirelessly 24/7 to get the ground ready for play every week?
Is there a place for an Administrator of the Year or a Hall of Fame or a Roll of Honour?
Is there a place for the Cricket Writer of the Year, someone that has distinguished himself or herself with the quality of coverage of the game?
Is there a place for the Cricket Patron of the Year, recognition of a generous sponsor or benefactor that has contributed significantly to the development of the game?
Food for thought?
Clarence Hiles
Editor
