Seb Gotch and Hayley Jensen were awarded the men’s and women’s club champion trophies respectively at the MCC Cricket Presentation Dinner held on April 15 in the Members Dining Room.

The men’s trophy itself was renamed in honour of immediate past-president and former Australian Test batsman, Paul Sheahan. Gotch took out the Paul Sheahan Trophy for the best player in the First XI, having made 590 runs at 49.17, including impressive knocks of 173, 118 and 98.

Jensen also earned the Players' MVP Award on the back of her 585-run season that included a century and a 99, scored at an average of 48.80, coupled with taking 17 wickets.

Hayley was also named in Cricket Victoria’s Premier Cricket Team of the Year, while MCC curator Scott West again earned the ‘Best Curator Award’ after the Albert Cricket Ground was rated the best pitch and outfield in the competition.

The Brian Watson Memorial Award for ‘most outstanding performance by an MCC cricketer’ was awarded to Sam Harper who, after becoming the youngest ever wicket-keeper to be selected for Victoria, then took a record nine catches on debut.

Jackson Koop and Amy Yates were named the XXIX Club-sponsored Youth Cricketers of the Year. Fourth XI captain Alistair McCooke was awarded Best Club Person. MCC Club XI players of the season were Ray Smith (Reds) and Laurie Heath (Blues).

The retirements of long-serving MCC players, Nick Quinn and Ashley Farr, were acknowledged at the dinner. And while the club's band of volunteers was again recognised, this year there were two special service award presentations.

Michael Symons, our First XI scorer since 1995/96, gave notice of his intention to stand down, having scored 363 First XI games for MCC and 403 overall including his brief stint at South Melbourne. Mike Ringham, our club statistician and former long-term First XI scorer from 1975 to 1992, was in attendance and acknowledged for more than 40 years' outstanding service in maintaining the club’s statistical records.

New women’s coach

In the off season, the club appointed Bryan Harper as its women’s cricket coach for the coming season.

Bryan is no stranger to the MCC as a former player and men’s head coach, and father of established MCC First XI player Sam and elder brother Jack, who has joined the club for next season from Monash Tigers.

Bryan first joined MCC as a player in the mid-80s and went onto forge a highly decorated playing and coaching career at Caulfield Cricket Club.

He coached St Kilda for two seasons in the late nineties before his coaching journey brought him to MCC, where he led us to three club championships and multiple lower grade premierships in his four seasons at the helm (2002-06).

"We are thrilled to have Bryan join us, a person with outstanding coaching credentials with a great connection to the MCC and with experience in coaching females at the elite level," said MCC Premier Cricket Committee chairman, Michael Sholly.