Everton Comets win inaugural national Spirit of Cricket award

Queensland's Everton Comets under-14 side has won Cricket Australia's inaugural national Spirit of Cricket monthly award for October.

Designed to promote fair play at all levels of men's and women's Australian cricket, the national award is part of Cricket Australia's broader Spirit of Cricket project, and issued to the club side which best displays a commitment to upholding the game's true spirit, traditions and values.

The spirit of cricket includes respect for teammates, opponents and the umpire's role; a commitment to fair play; and conduct appropriate to the dignity of the game.

A Cricket Australia panel of judges this week selected the Everton Comets as the inaugural winner after considering nominations from four state associations. Tasmania and Victoria were the only states not to submit a nomination.

The Comets, who play in the Brisbane-North junior club competition, were nominated for the award after captain Dean Warren called back an opposition batsman after he was given out caught behind.

When Nick Kershaw, of the Albany Creek Seahawks, was adjudged out on the last ball of the day, Warren called his side together, and after consulting the field umpire, decided it was in the right spirit of the game to call Kershaw back to the crease the following week.

As the monthly winner of the national Spirit of Cricket Award, the Everton Comets will receive an autographed bat signed by members of the Australian cricket team.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said Everton's gesture proved that you're never too young to observe the laws and traditions of the game.

"This award is all about recognising those who have displayed a commitment to upholding the spirit of the game and all our October nominees were worthy winners," Mr Sutherland said.

"We were particularly impressed with the sportsmanship displayed by the boys at Everton, who proved that cricketers across all levels and age-groups have a responsibility to observing the laws of the game.

"The spirit in which the game is played is just as important as achieving success, whether it is in the schoolyard, the local suburban oval or at an international level.

"We're hoping this award continues to encourage cricketers across all levels to play the game hard, as is the Australian way, but to also play it fair."

Mr Sutherland paid tribute to Lord's Taverners West Australian branch and the West Australian Cricket Association for their pioneering role developing a Spirit of Cricket in Western Australia and said this had helped inspire Cricket Australia to develop similar national awards.

The other nominations for the National Spirit of Cricket award included:

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - Bayswater-Morley District Cricket Club
Following a collision between a Bayswater-Morely bowler and an opposition batsman, a member of the fielding side proceeded to run the batsman out. The bowler immediately admitted to getting in the batman's way and Bayswater-Morely captain Marcus North consequently advised the umpire that he was withdrawing the team's appeal.

Special commendation: Australian Test opening batsman Justin Langer walked from the crease on two occasions while playing first grade matches for Scarborough despite being given not-out.

NEW SOUTH WALES - Hawkesbury CC
Northern Districts batsman David Ball drove a ball to Hawkesbury's Adam Cooke who was fielding at cover. Cooke dived forward and took what everyone thought was a great catch, however he indicated to the umpire that the ball had bounced just before reaching him. He was promptly thanked by Northern Districts captain Tim McMahon, who was at the bowler's end.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Tea Tree Gully District Cricket Club
Tea Tree Gully was nominated after leading the South Australian Cricket Association's Grade Spirit of Cricket Award in both the junior and senior competitions. Tea Tree Gully's senior sides have scored 25 points out of a maximum of 30 for the season to date, while the junior sides have managed an impressive 19 points out of a possible 20. The Tea Tree Gully captains have actively displayed responsible behavior and set a good example for their players.

The national Spirit of Cricket award will be presented to one club around Australia each month.

A separate Spirit of Cricket award has been developed for the ING Cup and Pura Cup competitions with the results from the first two rounds to be announced in the coming days