Cricket players of year

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 40

Cricket players of year

Bruce Edgar, of Wellington, has been named batsman of the year and Richard Hadlee, of Canterbury’, bowler of the year, in the 1979 issue of the Shell Cricket Almanac. The Almanac follows a quaint system of selecting a player of the year only once, but in this instance good cases could be made for both the awards. Edgar was only eighth in the national averages, and he scored fewer runs in the tests against Pakistan than John Wright and Geoffrey Howarth. But Edgar had an aggregate of 944 for the season, 155 more than Wright. However Wright batted very consistently in the tests and his claims to the Almanac’s distinction were certainly as strong as those of Edgar. Hadlee finished third in the national averages behind John Bracewell and Ewan Chatfield, but he topped the aggregates with his 50 wickets and bowled outstandingly well in the test matches. It is a little strange perhaps that this is Hadlee’s first appearance in the Almanac’s list, for be has w’on the Winsor Cup, awarded by the New Zealand Cricket Council for the year, for the last three seasons. The Almanac is again well presented, and full of the facts the cricket addict wants to read. Hadlee’s full test record is there, and with it the career records of Bevan Congdon, Richard Coliinge and Hedley Howarth. Full scores of the Pakistan tour, the World Cup games, the Shell Series matches and all the many forms of minor cricket are included, as well as lists of national records. There will be some very appreciative readers of the Almanac. One who might not be so happy is the Canterbury opening batsman, Geoff Smith. He is listed, at 35, as being among the oldest players to appear las* season. The Almanac has added 10 years to his age.