Player of the Year Award for rising star

Sep 30 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

TWELVE months ago his entire professional career was in the balance, but Will Smith’s re-emergence was confirmed when he swept the board at Durham’s player of the year awards.

Smith claimed three of the prizes, including the chief one of player of the year, at an awards ceremony at Gosforth’s Marriott Hotel.

The 26-year-old, who is expected to be named as the Riversiders’ next captain this winter, was also chosen as batsman of the year and young player of the year.

A poor start to his Durham career saw Smith lose his place halfway through last season but since winning his place back early this season he has been a revelation in the Riversiders’ maiden County Championship success. It was the second of his career having won the title with Nottinghamshire in 2005. Smith fell short of the magic 1,000-run mark in first class cricket but having missed the early part of the season, his 925 runs came at an average of 51.

The former Durham University student was one of two outstanding candidates for the award, but Steve Harmison had to settle for being players’ player of the year and bowler of the year, a prize sponsored by ncjMedia, The Journal’s parent company. The day began with Harmison tipped in some quarters to win the Professional Cricketers’ Association player of the year award.

He failed to, but the mere fact he was shortlisted proved a point to the critics who wrote him off last spring.

Harmison was dropped by England in March and many expected that to signal the end of his international career. But the Ashington Express responded with 100 wickets this year in all competitions and won an England recall in the process.

Australian Michael Di Venuto was named Fielder of the Year while captain Gordon Muchall was Second Eleven Player of the Year. As well as guiding his team to the title, Muchall scored over 900 runs at an average of 66.

The players union, the PCA, named Kent all-rounder Martin van Jaarsveld as their player of the season. The 34-year-old South African was selected ahead of Harmison, Marcus Trescothick and Ravi Bopara.

DURHAM CCC AWARD WINNERS

Player of the Year: Will Smith; Young Player of the Year: Will Smith; Second Eleven Player of the Year: Gordon Muchall; Batsman of the Year: Will Smith; Bowler of the Year: Stephen Harmison; Fielder of the Year: Michael Di Venuto; Players’ Player of the Year: Stephen Harmison; Community Player of the Year: Will Gidman.