Keith Barker Scoops Award Double At End Of Season Dinner

The curtain came down on the 2021 season recently – one which saw Hampshire come agonisingly close to a first County Championship title since 1973 and reach a record eighth T20 Finals Day – and Saturday saw Hampshire Cricket’s men's players and staff come together to mark the completion of a memorable season.

Five awards were given out on the evening – across both red and white-ball formats - while Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rod Bransgrove presented a number of players with their county cap.

First up was the award for White Ball Batter of the Year and this went to Joe Weatherley after his breakout year in the Vitality Blast, in which he scored 410 runs at an average of 37 and with a strike rate of more than 141.

Joe also starred at Vitality Blast Finals Day with a career-best score of 71. It wasn’t just the Vitality Blast in which Joe caught the eye, the right-hander also averaged 34 in this summer's Royal London Cup.

Next up was the presentation of the White Ball Bowler of the Year award, which went to Scott Currie. The 20-year-old took 19 wickets for Hampshire Hawks in just nine Vitality Blast matches at a staggering average of just 12.84 and registered a career-best of 4-24 against Somerset at The Ageas Bowl in July.

The youngster was also a fixture in the Royal London Cup, notching six wickets in five matches at an average of 22.

After a break for food attention turned to red-ball cricket. Captain James Vince scooped the Red Ball Batter of the Year award – his 816 LV= Insurance County Championship runs came at an average of 40 in a season which saw him notch a double-hundred and four half centuries, before Keith Barker won the Red Ball Bowler of the Year award.

Barker picked up 41 LV= Insurance County Championship wickets – at an average of just 18 - despite missing the first four games with injury. The 34-year-old arguably saved his best for the Divisional stage as Hampshire made a run for the title where he picked up 21 wickets which included a career-best of 7-46 against title rivals Nottinghamshire. Barker’s impressive form – he also contributed impressively with bat in hand – saw the all-rounder also scoop the prestigious Players’ Player of the Year Award.

The award winners weren’t the only players recognised on the evening as Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rod Bransgrove presented County Caps to seven players. Tom Alsop, Lewis McManus, Ian Holland and Mason Crane joined Keith Barker, Joe Weatherley and Brad Wheal in receiving their well-deserved county caps.