Kangaroo Flat cricketer Tony Taig provided some compensation for his disappointed teammates by winning the Bendigo District Cricket Association's Cricketer Of The Year Award recently.
The Roos were bundled out of the A Grade competition on a wet wicket in the semi-final clash with Strathfieldsaye. Sent into to bat, Kangaroo Flat cruised to 0/32 before a dramatic batting collapse saw it dismissed for only 64. Taig was the Roos top scorer with 25 and despite a good bowling and fielding effort Kangaroo Flat was defeated by 5 wickets.
In his third season at Kangaroo Flat, Taig was clearly adjudged the best player in the competition. He won the league batting average and aggregate with 746 runs at 57.38 during the home and away season. He also took out the BDCA champion award with 806 points and shared the Umpires Association award for most valuable player with Golden Square all-rounder Scott Johnson.
Taig set a number of scoring records at Kangaroo Flat this year. Buoyed by the purchase of a new bat, he fired after Christmas with a string of half centuries followed by an explosive end to the home and away season. In the penultimate match he scored 187 as the Roos successfully chased 297 against Golden Square. Two weeks later, in the final home and away match of the season he struck 162 in pursuit of Strathfieldsaye's 230.
He now boasts the two highest individual scores in Kangaroo Flat's 50 year association with the BDCA A Grade competition.
The 25-year-old batsman was typically modest about his stunning season.
"I'm very pleased to win these awards, but I would've much preferred to have been playing in the grand final," he said.
"We had a really good season, losing only two games, but then it came to the semi-final things didn't go our way. Hopefully our luck will turn around next year."
Taig wasn't the only Kangaroo Flat player recognised at the BDCA presentation night. Opening bowler Michael Durbridge took 30 wickets at 10.58 to claim the award for best bowling average, while opening batsman, Rohan Benstead, was voted the Sportspower Under 18 Player Of The Year.
Durbridge also starred in the final home and away game against Strathfieldsaye when he and younger brother Chris snared all 10 wickets in Strath's innings. At the same time Michael set a new club record for best individual bowling figures taking 8/57.
Kangaroo Flat president Bill Dundas said although the club was disappointed with its exit from the A Grade finals it had enjoyed a positive season.
"We really thought this might be the year for our A Grade, but it wasn't … I guess that's cricket," he said.
"Most importantly, the club was very pro-active in promoting cricket across the local region. We fielded four junior teams, three senior teams and also ran the Milo Have A Go coaching program for under age players."
"We really enjoyed the season and should bounce back bigger and better next year."