May, Miller and more contend for top player
THIS summer’s TCI Player of the Year award looks set to come down to a battle between two veterans of Toowoomba cricket.
Wests batsman Brian May and Northern Brothers Diggers all-rounder Mick Miller have emerged as the front-runners after impressive A-grade seasons.
The winner will be announced at the annual presentation dinner at the Downs Club this Friday night.
May returned to Toowoomba only this summer after a brilliant career in the Brisbane Grade competition, but he was instrumental in leading Wests to their first A-grade premiership.
The prolific run-scorer became the oldest player to win the Peter Burge Medal for the best player in Brisbane Premier Grade cricket in 2010-11, and he’s brought that form back to his junior club.
May’s 843 regular season runs at an average of 64.85 is the most in more than a decade, surpassing the efforts of Northern Brothers Diggers batsman Randall Hart (769 runs) in the 2005-05 season.
May has amassed two centuries, including a top score of 158 in a two-day game against Souths, while his 82-run stand with Anthony Wilson sealed the Twenty20 title for Wests.
However, Miller has won the TCI Player of the Year award three times before and is shooting for a third straight crown this season.
The former Shield player had planned to call stumps on his cricketing career, but he has been in vintage form for Diggers again this summer.
The club’s bowling stocks looked weakened after losing English quick Aaron Watson, but Miller stepped up with a massive 45 wickets at an average of 10.09.
Miller’s form with the bat has been down this season, and he played just the one T20 game, but he’s still scored 325 runs at 46.43.
TCI president Angus Rathie admitted it was hard to split May and Miller, but he said they weren’t the only ones in contention.
Metropolitan-Easts all-rounder Troy Gurski has been a model of consistency with the bat, scoring 591 runs at 39.4, while also claiming 27 wickets at 13.74.
May could also have some competition from Wests teammate Shaun McCarthy, who made the Queensland Country team for this year’s national championships.
McCarthy has scored 260 runs and taken 34 wickets alongside fellow opening bowler Jimmy O’Donohue with 29 wickets.
Souths could also have a few contenders despite not making the finals, with Brendan Jones (658 runs) and Brendan Doggett (36 wickets) both impressive.
“The experienced cricketers are up there, but they’re not having it all their own way,” Rathie said.
“A few young blokes have come up with some match-winning performances.
“Brendan Jones has scored a lot of runs, and Brendan Doggett has nearly single-handedly won games with his impressive fast bowling.
“Wests opening bowlers Shaun McCarthy and James O’Donohue have also performed well and taken a lot of wickets.
“Brian May has been batting strongly for Wests but a lot of their performances are based on their seam attack.
“There’s about six guys within 10 votes of each other. It’s good to see it’s not a one-man competition.
“It’s not just the usual faces. There’s a few young blokes coming through the ranks.”