In April of this year Jordan Moran said it was an honour to be named “the best player this side of the Blue Mountains” after being named Western Zone Player of the Year.
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This weekend, the Dubbo star will receive higher recognition when he is awarded the Josh Hazlewood Medal as the NSW Country Male Player of the Year.
The biggest prize possible for a player plying his trade outside of Sydney, Moran is a worthy winner after a stellar 2016/17 season.
He helped both Western Zone and the Orana Outlaws to glory while a gritty century for NSW Country helped him earn the prestigious honour of being named in the Australian Country side.
The award winners for Saturday night’s Country Cricket Annual Dinner at the Cobram Barooga Sports Club were released this week and there was a distinct Western Zone flavour.
As well as Moran’s prize, Western Zone mentor Matt Crawley has been named the Coach of the Year while Bathurst’s Lisa Griffith will collect the Alex Blackwell Medal as NSW Country Female Player of the Year.
To top it all off, Bathurst-based Graeme Glazebrook has been named as NSW Country Umpire of the Year.
Cricket NSW Country Committee chairman Ian Hogg congratulated all the winners following another strong season for cricket in regional and rural NSW.
“The quality of our award winners highlights that cricket continues to flourish right across our state,” he said.
While full of praise for individual and teams, Hogg added game’s governing body in NSW was keen to keep improving and supporting cricket in regional areas.
“Cricket NSW has a strong, ongoing commitment to cricket in the bush.
“More than $3.7 million was invested in competitions, programs and personnel last season, which benefited male and female players of all ages.
“Cricket NSW also continues to support the playing of elite cricket in regional areas.
“The Blues played a Sheffield Shield match at Wollongong after matches were staged at Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Wagga Wagga over the previous two years.
“Last season, the Sydney Thunder had a particularly successful Border Bash against the Melbourne Stars in Albury. A WBBL match for points, followed by a BBL practice match, attracted almost 10,000 fans.
“The Thunder BBL team played a practice match against Hong Kong in Albury, while the Sixers played the same opponent in Coffs Harbour.”