Higgins makes team of the season

GLOUCESTERSHIRE all-rounder Ryan Higgins was named in the Greene King Team of the Year at the end-of-season Natwest Cricket Awards.

Higgins took a total of 30 wickets and claimed a maiden 10-wicket haul in the Bob Willis Trophy this season.

Two Gloucestershire club stalwarts were nominated for awards, the ‘OSCAS’ - Ryan Walker of Tetbury CC in the Connecting Communities Award category and in the #Raisethebat Award, Brian Woodcock of Cirencester CC made the shortlist.

The Cricketer magazine named three Gloucestershire men in their Vitality T20 Blast team of the season - Ian Cockbain, Higgins and Tom Smith.

On Cockbain, they said: “A poor semi-final aside, Cockbain was the main man for Gloucestershire this year.

“399 runs in 11 innings at an average of 44.33 with three fifties and a top score of 89.

“At three, he had a strike rate of 169.78 which is seriously impressive.

“Solid at the top of the order, he had the ability to take games away from the opponent.”

On Higgins, they said: A top performer this year for Gloucestershire with 16 wickets.

“Innings best figures of 4-34 against Worcestershire showed that he has what it takes to be a real force.

“A strike rate of 13 is also not to be sniffed at.

With a win percentage of 66% in T20 cricket, he has the ability to be a real match winner for the Bristol outfit.”

And on spinner Smith the magazine said: “Another Gloucestershire talent, Smith, who hasn’t had the easiest time of it in recent years made it to Finals Day and ended the competition with 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 17.35, striking almost once every three overs.”