By Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
WAVELL HINDS and Jerome Taylor won the top awards at the Jamaica Cricket Association's (JCA) presentation at the Hilton Hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday night.
Hinds, the left-handed batsman from Kensington, was named the 'Cricketer of the Year', and Taylor, the young fast bowler from St. Elizabeth Technical, was named Jamaica's 'Young West Indies Cricketer of the Year'.
Dropped after the first two Test matches against Australia, Hinds scored 352 runs, including two undefeated centuries at an average of 117.33, in the one-day series against Australia. He then scored 161 runs, including a top score of 113 at an average of 50.36, in the two Test matches against Sri Lanka and 212 runs at an average of 53.00 in the two Test matches against Zimbabwe.
In a fairytale season, Taylor came from nowhere to represent Jamaica in the Carib Beer Series and, after taking 21 wickets, including figures of 8-59 against Trinidad and Tobago, represented the West Indies in three Test matches - two against Sri Lanka and one against Zimbabwe.
SPECIAL AWARDS
In the special awards category, David Bernard Jnr. won the Laurie Williams Trophy as the most disciplined player representing Jamaica, Robert Lewis, coach of Holmwood Technical, won the Derief Taylor Trophy as 'Coach of the Year' and the President's Award went to Johnnie Gayle - the former Test umpire who also served as secretary and president of the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association and as secretary of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association.
Other awards: Collie Smith Trophy for leadership on and off the field - Robert Samuels, G. Roy Williams Trophy to the most disciplined player in the Super League and the Senior League - Maurice Kepple, Wilson James Cup to best fielding team - Jamaica Defence Force, Unifruitco Cup to the best fielder - Wayne Cuff, Gleaner Independence Trophy to the outstanding umpire - Astley Green, the groundsman of the year - Ronald Spencer of JDF, E.A. Rae Award to the Jamaica Youth player setting the best example on and off the field - Simon Jackson, and the George Headley Trophy for excellence in youth cricket - Jamie Trenchfield, the captain of Jamaica's winning team at the regional Under-15 tournament.
Awards for outstanding performances in the Super League were as follows: Most runs - Nicholas Austin of Kingston CC with 481 runs; most wickets - Bevon Brown of St. Catherine CC with 37 wickets, highest individual score - Nicholas Austin - Kingston CC with 146, most centuries - Nicholas Austin of Kingston CC with two, best bowling - Evon McInnis of Westmoreland with eight for 58, most five wickets in an innings - Wavell Hinds of Kensington CC and Alton Beckford of St. Elizabeth with four each, most wicketkeeping dismissals - Mel Wint of JDF with 28, most catches - Renford Pinnock Jnr. of St. Catherine CC with 14, and top allrounder - Wayne Cuff of JDF who scored 420 runs at an average of 46.70, and who took 18 wickets at an average
of 25.94.
Trophies and cash prizes were also presented to the winning teams: Jamaica National Building Society All-Island Primary Schools - Petersville of Westmoreland, JNBS All-Island All-Age Schools - New Hope Westmoreland, Kingston Wharves All-Island Under 15 - Middlesex South, Minor Cup - Kensington CC, Corporate Area Junior Cup - Kingston CC, Rural Junior Cup - Clarendon CA, All-Island Junior Cup - Clarendon CA, Masters (over 40) - Clarendon CA, Senior League - Boys' Town, Capital & Credit Limited-Overs - Melbourne CC, Super League - JDF.
