State Otago Volts newcomers Craig Cumming and Craig Pryor were tonight jointly named Cricketers of the Year at the annual State awards function.

As allrounders, both players found success with bat and ball in their first season with the Volts. Cumming averaged 44.71 runs and took 13 wickets at an average of 23.69 in Shell Trophy, whilst in Shell Cup he averaged 25.44 and took seven wickets. Craig Pryor, in his best season to date, captured the highest number of Trophy wickets for the Volts with 29 at an average of 23.58. In Shell Cup he averaged 34.14 with the bat and took six wickets.

New Zealand Cricketer of the Year, Mark Richardson, was named Batsman of the Year with a Shell Trophy average of 56.25 (675 runs) and Cup average of 50.66 (152 runs).

The bowler of the year is Warren McSkimming, with 26 first-class wickets at an average of 22.50 and 14 Shell Cup wickets for a 21.92 average.

Up-and-coming wicketkeeper/batsman Brendon McCullum was named Rising Star for the State Otago Volts. McCullum, who captained the New Zealand U19 side against South Africa, will attend the New Zealand Cricket academy this winter with brother Nathan and Warren McSkimming.

New Zealand women's representative and winner of the most outstanding female player in domestic cricket award, Rachel Pullar, captured the State Otago Sparks player and batsman titles. Pullar was the leading run-scorer for the Sparks, with 195 runs at an average of 32.50. She had a bowling average of 28 in the State Insurance Cup, and took 10 wickets.

Sparks bowler of the year went to English international Clare Taylor, with 14 wickets at an average of 22.35.

Sarah Tsukigawa, a Sparks allrounder and captain of the Otago U21 side, was named Rising Star.

The prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Cricket award was presented to Elaine Scurr who has been instrumental in the development of women's cricket in Otago. Scurr, who works in a voluntary capacity for cricket, heads the women's management committee and has established the intermediate girls and senior women's competitions in Dunedin.

State Otago Cricket Awards
2000/01 Season

State Otago Volts
Cricketers of the year	Craig Cumming and Craig Pryor
Batsman of the year	Mark Richardson
Bowler of the year	Warren McSkimming
Fielder of the year	Nathan McCullum
Rising star	Brendon McCullum
Fastest Shell 50	Warren McSkimming
State Otago Sparks
Cricketer of the year	Rachel Pullar
Batsman of the year	Rachel Pullar
Bowler of the year	Clare Taylor
Fielder of the year	Kirsten Spence
Rising star	Sarah Tsukigawa
Outstanding Contribution to Cricket	Elaine Scurr
Age-group Awards
Under 21 Women
Batsman	Sarah Tsukigawa
Bowler	Kylie Green
Outstanding Performer	Natalie Bannerman
Under 17 Girls
Batsman	Katey Martin
Bowler	Claire Thompson
Outstanding Performer	Suzanna Bates
Under 14 Girls
Batsman	Tessa Rabbette
Bowler	Suzanna Bates
Outstanding Performer	Courtney Winsloe
Otago 2nd XI Men
Batsman	Mike Hesson
Bowler	Bradley Scott
Outstanding Performer	Nathan Morland
Under 22 Colts
Batsman	Jarrod Stewart
Bowler	Richard Quirk
Outstanding Performer	Simon Beare
Under 19 Boys
Batsman	Shaun Haig/Anthony Wilkinson
Bowler	Johnathan Hodson
Outstanding Performer	Brendon McCullum
Under 17 Boys
Batsman	Tim Clydesdale
Bowler	Brendon Domigan
Outstanding Performer	Stephen Brown
Under 15 Boys
Batsman	James Wadworth
Bowler	Kieran Noema-Barnett
Outstanding Performer	Sean Eathorne
Under 14 Boys
Batsman	Nick Taylor
Bowler	Brayden Hill
Outstanding Performer	Robert McNally

© Otago Cricket Association