Chris Rushworth was a hugely deserved winner of the 2015 Durham Player of the Year award held at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel in Newcastle.
Seamer Rushworth broke Otis Gibson’s all-time Durham record for first class wickets in a season and was voted Bowler of the Year, Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at the ceremony, in front of supporters, sponsors, coaches and his team-mates.
Rushworth, who will spend the winter Down Under playing grade cricket in Australia, was recently voted the PCA Player of the Year, capping a remarkable season for the county.
He told www.durhamccc.co.uk: “I can’t tell you how delighted I am to have been chosen for these awards by Durham. It just tops an absolutely fantastic season for me and I feel very proud to have picked up three such prestigious awards.
“I wish we could have gone on to bring another major trophy to the club this season, but we will be trying our hardest to put that right next year.
“I couldn’t have done anything this season without the support of my team-mates, coaches and those people who come every week to back the county from the stands, through good times and not so good.
“We have had a decent season finishing fourth in the County Championship but we will be firing on all cylinders to try and get back to winning ways and bring more silverware to the Emirates Durham ICG.”
Other award winners on the evening, which was compered by former Hampshire and England spinner Shaun Udal, were as follows:
Community Player of the Year: Jamie Harrison, sponsored by Sunderland University. Jamie could not attend due to a family matter.
2nd XI Player of the Year: Jack Burnham, sponsored by Newcastle International Airport. Jack said: “The aim was to get into the first team at some stage this season and I managed that. It was a dream come true to make my debut, but now I have got to try even harder to hold down a place in what is a very competitive side.”
Champagne Moment of the Year: Scott Borthwick and Ryan Pringle, sponsored by New Balance. Ryan said: “It was a joint effort, definitely. We have had some good moments as a fielding side this year, but the aim is always to try and achieve more. That’s what we have got to do next season.”
Fielder of the Year: Michael Richardson, sponsored by Muckle LLP. Michael said: “I’m very surprised but delighted to have won the fielder award. I didn’t think I would get it, but really pleased to have been chosen. My aims for 2016? To make the one-day side on a regular basis and to get back to bringing trophies to Durham.”
Bowler of the Year: Chris Rushworth, sponsored by Castle Insurance. Chris said: “I’ve been backed up by some excellent fielding and some brilliant bowling by my team-mates. I’m thrilled to have beaten Gibbo’s record, who will always be an absolute legend in these parts.”
Batsman of the Year: Scott Borthwick, sponsored by Port of Tyne. Scott said: “I have got to be a bit hard on myself and start turning those 90s into hundreds. All in all though, it has been massively enjoyable this season, even in pretty bowler-friendly conditions.”
Players’ Player of the Year: Chris Rushworth, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin. Chris said: “It is really the ultimate honour to have your own colleagues vote for you, so this is a very special award.”
Young Player of the Year: Ryan Pringle, sponsored by Ebac. Ryan said: “It has been a really good season for me in terms of my own development but I really believe there is so much more to come. I have got to get a lot more consistent with bat and ball. Right now, if I had to choose, I’m enjoying the bowling more than batting, but I realise I have to carry on improving in both if I am going to hold down a regular first team place.”
Player of the Year: Chris Rushworth, sponsored by Emirates. Chris said: “I look back on the time when I was released by the club and did a load of rubbish jobs which I didn’t like. I looked back then and thought I should have given a lot more to my cricket and thankfully the penny dropped. I came back to the county a lot stronger, both mentally and physically and I feel I am continuing to improve every season. I genuinely feel I can take more wickets next season and I will always bowl my heart out for the county and for my team-mates.”