But Otago all-rounder Michael Rippon can celebrate a wonderful season which enabled him to scoop the major men’s prize at the Otago Cricket Awards evening at the Longroom last night.
The former Dutch international was named Otago Volts cricketer of the year following a tremendous summer.
The left-arm wrist spinner came to life in the later stages of the Plunket Shield.
He took a career-best six for 66 to help the Volts beat Central Districts by 44 runs at the University of Otago Oval last month.
The following week he was desperately unlucky not to pick up another five-wicket bag and lead Otago to a victory against Northern Districts.
The 29-year-old right hander’s fighting qualities with the bat were on display as well. He scored 497 runs at an average of 45.18.
Rippon also had a big impact in the Super Smash for the province. He took 10 wickets and went for just 7.24 an over.
He has enhanced his reputation as a quality player who appears capable of making the step up should the Black Caps ever need a spinner who can bat.
The night’s other big winner was Katey Martin. The veteran wicketkeeper was the Sparks’ player of the year.
She was Otago’s leading scorer in the Super Smash with 265 runs at a strike rate of 116.74.
Martin missed most of the one-day campaign but managed to score 258 runs at 64.50 in the four games she did play.
Martin also claimed the Sparks batting award, while medium pacer Emma Black was named Sparks bowler of the year.
Michael Rae produced the performance of the year with his hat-trick against Central Districts and was also named Volts bowler of the year, while Hamish Rutherford collected the batting award.
