The Best County Batsman of 2005

[Andy Mellon]

Alright people! Another year has passed and its time for the prestigious WAT County Awards 2005.

I'll post a separate vote for each of the categories previously discussed.

Please vote for who you actually believe to be the best and not just support your local county player or who has played for England. Who has made the biggest difference for their respective county? If you want to justify your decision, feel free.

The nominations have been based on open discussions held for the last month. If you're not happy about the nominations, its too late!

YOU HAVE 21 DAYS FROM 02/10/05 TO VOTE!!!

[Rachael]

We surely have to give credit for division one performances... and that suggests one of the following:

Ramps made 	11x 50+ scores	from 23 innings (big contribution in 48% of innings) and converted 	6, 55%
Hussey made 	10x 50+ scores 	from 20 innings (big contribution in 50% of innings) and converted 	3, 30%
Shah made 	14x 50+ scores 	from 30 innings (big contribution in 47% of innings) and converted 	7, 50%
Joyce made 	16x 50+ scores 	from 29 innings (big contribution in 55% of innings) but converted 	3, 19%
Key made 	12x 50+ scores 	from 27 innings (big contribution in 44% of innings) but converted 	4, 33%

The leading division 2 candidates would be Mike Hussey (44% x 50, 38% converted, Andy Flower (38%x50, 56% converted) and Phil Jaques (43%x50, 40% converted). At first glance I don't see how any can be in the reckoning on those figures (that would need someone to make a case that the pitches were tougher, that the division 2 attacks faced were actually greater and so on).

Personally, I reckon any batsman getting this award when scoring predominently at Kent, Middlesex or Surrey ought to be disqualified in that Boycott's mother could bat on those pitches... but stats wise it has to be Ramps... with 50+ contributions in half his games and the best conversion rate of any div 1 contender... to say nothing of the highest average.

I'll hold fire on my vote in the hope that someone can argue for one of the others (perhaps one of the Husseys) on the grounds that they faced more Testing pitches.

[Paoli]

Scuse the lack of creativity...but I've given my one for Andy 'Petals' Flower....Showing he can still match it with the (domestic) best at 37.

[Kirsty Harris]

I've opted for Cook as he has been very impressive this season for Essex. An England batsmen of the future. I feel he has developed as a player week-by-week. He is certainly the county player I shall remember from this past season in years to come.

[cantplaycantalk]

What no Paul Collingwood or Dale Benkenstein in the list? Colly made 6 centuries after all and missed a good chunk of the season to ODI and Test duty. Benkenstein was player of the year at Durham ahead of Colly and Hussey.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

The nominations have been based on open discussions held for the last month. If you're not happy about the nominations, its too late!

CPCT, the nominations were open for quite a while, no one nominated Benkie or Colly (unless I missed their names from the nomination thread, if i have let me know and I'll add them to the poll). If you haven't nominated, have a look at that thread and make sure that you put in your nominations for the other awards still to come!

[cantplaycantalk]

I was working away for most of the last month so didn't get much chance to check.I would say Hussey as the Durham representative is fair enough he had the highest average of the three who really starred for Durham this year.
Colly 50-100 conversion rate of 100% was quite something mind and the fact that Benkenstein was Durhams player of the year were significant but both chipped in quite effectively with the ball as well where Hussey was an out and out batsman.

[Andy Mellon]

As you were away, I've made the unprecidented decision to add Colly and Benkie to this list (mainly because I agree to some extent with your arguments). If anyone wants to transfer their vote to either of these players, let me know.

Also, CPCT, could you go to the nominations thread and nominate for the other awards so that as many people are as happy with the nominations for the other awards as possible!

[cantplaycantalk]

The only one I don't see in the list is Panasar as a bowler. If Louden is listed then Panasar should be too I think.


Other than that I would say no glaring ommisions.

[Andy Mellon]

10 Days left to vote on this poll. It's looking close at the moment! Make sure you vote! Can Shah be overhauled?!?