WESTERN WAVES cricket region celebrated another great season on Sunday, announcing its men’s and women’s Team’s of the Year for 2022-23.

Region president, Lloyd Ilett, noted the 2022-23 season was a difficult summer with many rounds washed out across the region after an unprecedented wet spring early summer that saw much of the Western Waves region inundated.

The men’s team includes four players from the Hamilton and District Cricket Association, whose performances with the bat and ball in hand demanded their selection.

The Team of the Year is wholly based on statistics from the top grade in each of the Western Waves member associations and competitions, and only includes those stats posted in the home and away season and doesn’t include any performances in finals.

Simon Close from Pigeon Ponds Cricket Club earned his selection as an opening batsman with 521 runs at an average of 57.85 to be the highest run scorer in the region.

St Andrew’s batsman and perennial team of the year member, Brendan Huf earned his selection as a top order batsman with 396 runs at an average of 49.50.

Current P.F. Christie Medallist and Grampians cricketer, Carl Joyce, was also selected in the team as one the all-rounders after posting 289 runs and claiming 17 wickets.

Earning his debut selection in the side was College opening bowler, Henry Bensch, after snaring 22 wickets at the miserly average of 8.30.

Teams

Men – Simon Close (Pigeon Ponds), Alister Templeton (West Warrnambool), Brendan Huf (St Andrew’s), Chris Bant (Allansford-Panmure), Geoff Williams (Nestles), Carl Joyce (Grampians), Mark Murphy (Briely-Christchurch), Simon Richardson (Allansford-Panmure), Matthew Belden (Portland Colts), Xavier Beks (Dennington), Henry Bensch (College) and Stuart Brown (Dennington)

Women – Mikaela Doran, Shannon Johnson, Aisha Hendriks, Claire Widdicombe, Ella Jackson, Emille Tonissen, Grace Potter, Matilda Potter, Jessica Quinlivan, Jasmine Bowater, Jessica Walsh and Tara Elliott.