The outstanding performances of the Melbourne Cricket Club’s Women’s Cricket teams in the 2023/24 season were celebrated at the MCC’s Cricket Presentation Night on Friday May 10 at the MCG.
For the second time in three years, the MCC Women’s Teams clean-swept the competition, claiming premierships in all Victorian Premier Cricket grades – First XI, Second XI and Third XI, as well as Women’s U18 competition.The Presentation Night – which celebrates the season’s feats of both the Men’s and Women’s Premier Cricket Teams – was held in the Members’ Dining Room on Friday night, overlooking the hallowed turf of the MCG.
The 215 guests in attendance joined in the celebratory atmosphere as the 2023/24 premiership winning teams assembled, and Amy Yates and Blake Thomson were crowned Club Champions for the Women’s and Men’s sides.
In keeping with MCC tradition, the members of the Women’s First XI were presented with MCC-striped blazers to commemorate their season’s achievements.
The Women’s Premier Cricket teams also won the Club Championship for the fourth time in the last five years as the best overall performing Club in the Women’s division for the season.
The night reached a crescendo with the coveted Club Champion awards – awarded to the top performer from both the Men’s and Women’s teams.
Dynamic all-rounder Amy Yates was the recipient of the Women’s Club Champion trophy – receiving the award for the second time.
Yates compiled 447 runs across the One-Day and T20 competitions at an average of 29.80 – including five half-centuries with a high score of 74 off 63 balls. The spinner also snared 28 wickets at 12.57 in formats, with a best of 4/19.
Men’s captain Blake Thomson was the recipient of the Men’s Club Champion award – the Paul Sheahan Perpetual Trophy – for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
The 26-year-old was also awarded the Brian Watson Memorial Award for the ‘Most Outstanding Performance by an MCC Cricketer’ after his four consecutive centuries in the First XI - a feat that has never before been achieved in the Club’s history and only three times in the history of the competition.
Other award winners of the night included Kyle Williamson – who joined via video call to receive the Best Club Person award, Men’s First XI quick David Moody and Women’s young gun Shenali Fernando – who both received the Players’ Most Valuable Player awards as voted by their teammates - and Kamya Mishra and Christian Howe, two up-and-coming cricket talents who received the XXIX Club Young Cricketer of the Year Awards.
Award Winners
Club Champion, Women’s – Amy YatesClub Champion, Men’s (Paul Sheahan Perpetual Trophy) – Blake Thomson
Brian Watson Memorial Trophy – Blake Thomson
Best Club Person – Kyle Williamson
Women’s Players’ Most Valuable Player – Shenali Fernando
Men’s Players’ Most Valuable Player – David Moody
XXIX Club Young Cricketer of the Year, Women’s – Kamya Mishra
XIXX Club Young Cricket of the Year, Men’s – Christian Howe