Nationwide record...and our award too
CRICKETER OF YEAR IS READY TO DO IT ALL AGAIN
LEE Hodgson admits it will be tough to top his 2016 after winning the Sunday Sun’s North East Cricketer of the Year award.
Having put his incredible season down to hard work, extra responsibility and a bit of luck, the Marske allrounder is raring to go again in the new campaign.
Hodgson’s 1,520 runs and average of 89.4 came in the North Yorkshire South Durham League, but were nationwide records since Premier League cricket began.
Another way in which he made history was by hitting the club’s first double-hundred, in addition to seven centuries. He also claimed 30 league wickets and 12 catches.
“To beat all the other lads was more than pleasing,” he said.
“Every year I try to do better than the previous season.
“I’m probably going to struggle to do it again this year but I’ll give it a go.
“It’ll be hard work but I’ll give it a good go. I think it was partly having more responsibility as captain. I wouldn’t say it put more pressure on me but I had to go out there and set the tone.
“If I got a good score the team were buzzing. It would just set a good vibe for the day ahead.
“I’ll say it was a little bit of good form and a little bit of good luck with the umpires so I owe them a few pints, to be honest.”
Not surprisingly, Hodgson – who also scored Marske’s first Kerridge Cup century – was named League Cricket Conference National Club Cricketer of the Year.
Stockton’s 17-year-old opener Tom Hewison won our Young Player of the Year Award in a season which ended with him making his debut for Dur- ham’s second team at Sussex. He marked the occasion with a firstinnings hundred, and a half-century second time around.
“There were probably two or three outstanding people recommended but Tom has played his games across a wide range from under-17s to the best league in the area and the county second team,” explained Durham’s director of cricket Geoff Cook, who helped judge the awards.
“He’s managed to cope with all those levels and he’s a worthy winner.”
As one of only 16 North East Premier League players to make more than 500 runs in the competition last season, and having captained Durham’s Under-19s, Hewison is ambitious to play county cricket.
“I want to play as high as I can with Durham and see where it takes me,” he said.
“It would be perfect to play in front of the fans at the Riverside and hopefully it can happen to me one day.”
Hodgson, 30, spent his early years in the county system and says North East cricket is a good standard to develop at.
“I spent three years with the MCC Young Cricketers before I had my chance with Surrey and Yorkshire so I kind of had a feel for it,” he said. “It was a step towards being a professional and when you’re on a county staff, being around England players and playing against some, it was quite a good experience.
“The standard of North East club cricket is actually quite good. I think the leagues are getting a lot stronger and we’re getting players from county teams like Yorkshire and Durham.” The awards were presented at tea during Durham’s opening day of
County Championship season.
“We’re delighted to support this award and the object is to get lots of cricketers affiliated with Durham, whether supporting or having aspirations to play for us,” said Cook, who has seen nine players go from the county’s youth set-up into the England team since they entered FirstClass cricket in 1992. cricket this