Michael Cranmer has been named the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League’s non-EU Player of the Year.
The 25-year-old all-rounder captained Hoylandswaine to the Byrom Shield Premiership title, the arrowselfdrive Sykes Cup and the allroundercricket.com T20 Trophy treble this summer.
In addition to leading the side, Cranmer hammered 718 league and cup runs at an average of 71.80 and took 22 wickets at 19.45 each.
He hasn’t bowled as much this season as he’s made full use of an attack featuring 55-wicket vice-captain Richard Wilkinson, 40-wicket Yasir Abbas, Ben Potter, Ryan Robinson and, latterly, Zafir Patel who has missed a couple of games with a back injury.
Cranmer’s impact for the champions has been immense in all competitions, however, and he also hit the top score of the season so far in the shortest format – hitting Shelley for 186 in the T20 Trophy back in July.
The Adelaide-based player, who has represented South Australia in one-day cricket and played for Australia Under 19s in the past, is back home for treatment to the right knee injury he suffered in the T20 Trophy final victory against Barkisland at Broad Oak last month.
It’s not a serious injury, and Cranmer – who also scored 171 for Derbyshire Second XI v Lancashire at Liverpool this summer – is expected to start the season Down Under on time with his club side East Torrens.
Meanwhile, clubs have until September 18 to vote on a new package of rule changes for next season.
The modernisation plan was broadly welcomed when club representatives met at Almondbury CC, and they have been asked to give their approval for it to run experimentally next year.
It includes earlier start times, bowler restrictions, fielding circles and leg-side wides, in addition to a new points system with bonuses to encourage attacking cricket and a new, D/L-based rain rule.
A special general meeting will be called and the result of the clubs’ vote announced on September 25.
A two-thirds majority is needed for the changes to come into place.
Drakes League supporters should note the Sellers Junior League Under 17 Oldfield Cup final between Meltham and Barkisland takes place at Golcar on Sunday (11.30).
