Andrew Ellis named NZC's Domestic Player of the Year
Andrew Ellis, who finished seventh and eighth on the list of leading run-scorers and wicket-takers respectively in the Plunket Shield, won the accolade for the second time in three years
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Apr-2017
Andrew Ellis (right) pipped Todd Astle, Scott Kuggeleijn and George Worker to the award • Getty Images
Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis has been named New Zealand Cricket's Domestic Player of the Year for the second time in three years. The 35-year-old allrounder pipped Todd Astle, Scott Kuggeleijn and George Worker to the accolade, having already bagged two of the three men's domestic trophies - the Plunket Shield and the Ford Trophy - this season.
Ellis' tally of 652 runs, from ten rounds, at an average of 40.75 earned him a place among the country's top seven run-scorers in first-class cricket this season. He also finished in the top eight on the list of leading wicket-takers, with 27 wickets at 24.59. His match figures of 8 for 92 helped Canterbury defeat Otago by an innings and 119 runs in what was the biggest margin of victory in New Zealand's first-class summer.
Selector Gavin Larsen said the jury particularly took in account Ellis' role as a "leader in pressure situations."
"In addition to his significant performances with bat and ball, we considered Andrew Ellis' role as a leader in pressure situations - a season in which he led by example both on and off the field," Larsen said.
"Todd Astle [Canterbury], Scott Kuggeleijn [Northern Districts] and George Worker [Central Stags] would all have been a worthy winner, and the panel would like to acknowledge their excellent individual seasons."