Langer named 2002-03 ING Cup Player of the Series

Western Warriors vice-captain Justin Langer is the 2002-03 ING Cup Player of the Series, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today.

Langer polled 18 votes to claim the award, finishing one vote clear of Southern Redbacks vice-captain Greg Blewett (17 votes) and two votes ahead of Queensland Bulls captain Jimmy Maher (16 votes) in third place.

Four players tied for fourth place, polling 12 votes each - Western Warriors pair Jo Angel and Brad Williams, New South Wales Blues captain Steve Waugh, and Tasmanian Tigers all-rounder Daniel Marsh.

Langer receives a $5000 ING Investment Trust Account for the award, which was voted by umpires on a 3-2-1 basis after each game of the series. He also collects a pair of cufflinks - shaped in the form of wickets and a bat - valued at $3000 from ING.

The left-hand opening batsman produced one of his best domestic one-day seasons for the Warriors, scoring 431 runs from seven ING Cup matches at an average of 86.20.

He finished the ING Cup season as the second highest run-scorer behind Blewett, despite playing fewer games than the South Australian all-rounder (486 runs from 10 matches).

The 32-year-old's highest score - an unbeaten 114 - came in a man-of-the-match performance against the Tasmanian Tigers at the WACA Ground in Perth in December.

Langer finished with two centuries and two fifties from his seven ING Cup matches. He is Western Australia's highest domestic one-day run-scorer with 2494 runs.

Speaking ahead of his side's ING Cup final against the New South Wales Blues on Sunday, Langer said he was honoured to win the award.

"There were a number of players who had consistent seasons this year, so it's a great thrill to be presented with this award," said Langer.

"Looking at the calibre of players who have won the award over the last decade, it's a special feeling to be on the honour board next to them.

"The ING Cup is one of the best domestic one-day competitions around and this was evident last weekend as a number of teams battled it out for a place in the final.

"Individual accolades are nice, but the important focus at the moment is on the team and hopefully we can rise to the occasion on Sunday with a win against the Blues," he said.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Tigers all-rounder Daniel Marsh has been named 2002-03 ING Best All-rounder - a new award introduced this season.

The 29-year-old Tasmanian took the honours after becoming the only player to qualify for the award, which requires a player to score a minimum of 250 runs and capture at least 10 wickets in the season.

Marsh secured the award with a man-of-the-match performance against the Queensland Bulls at Bellerive Oval last weekend (15 February).

Needing a further 14 runs to meet the minimum 250-run award criteria, Marsh produced a career-best unbeaten century to help guide the Tigers to victory.

He collects a $5000 ING Investment Trust Account for his efforts, finishing the season with 336 runs and 10 wickets from 10 ING Cup matches.

The award for the ING Fastest 50 remains alive heading into the final of the ING Cup at the WACA Ground on Sunday (23 February).

The player scoring the fastest half century in the ING Cup season receives a $5000 ING Investment Trust Account.

Southern Redbacks wicket-keeper Graham Manou leads the fastest 50 table so far this season, scoring a half century from 29 balls against the Tasmanian Tigers in Adelaide in November.

The 23-year-old has already pocketed $50,000 this year, after becoming the first player in season 2002-03 to hit the ING sign - achieving the feat against the Western Warriors at Adelaide Oval earlier this month.

The Western Warriors host reigning domestic one-day champions New South Wales Blues at the WACA Ground this Sunday (23 February) in the final of the 2002-03 ING Cup.

The teams have met twice this season, with the head-to-head record standing at one win apiece.

The Warriors claimed a seven-wicket victory over the Blues at Coffs Harbour on 19 January and the Blues took the points in Perth on 12 February with a six-wicket win.

The New South Wales Blues, who defeated the Queensland Bulls by 19 runs in last year's ING Cup final, have named a 13-man squad for Sunday's match.

Blues captain Steve Waugh, who suffered a low-grade hamstring injury in the ING Cup match against the Southern Redbacks last Sunday (16 February), and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin - who strained his right hip flexor muscle while fielding in the same match - will both undergo fitness tests on the morning of Sunday's final but are expected to play.

The Warriors have named a 14-man squad, adding rookie all-rounder Beau Casson and left-arm paceman Michael Clark to the 12-man team that defeated the Victorian Bushrangers by 26 runs on 14 February to secure an ING Cup finals berth.

Squads
Western Warriors - Justin Langer (c), Mike Hussey (v-c), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Shaun Marsh, Chris Rogers, Callum Thorp, Brad Williams, Paul Wilson and Peter Worthington.

NSW Blues - Steve Waugh (c), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Shawn Bradstreet, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Simon Katich, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Phelps, Michael Slater, Dominic Thornely and Mark Waugh.

Western Australia has won 10 domestic one-day titles since 1969-70 - the most by any state. New South Wales has claimed the next highest total - seven one-day domestic titles.

Sunday's final starts at 1100.

The ING Player of the Final will receive a $1000 ING Investment Trust Account.

The umpires for the final are Steve Davis and John Smeaton. Ric Evans is the match referee.

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $7 for children u/16, concession holders and pensioners. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) costs $30. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster7 on 1300 136 122, www.ticketmaster7.com.au or at Ticketmaster7 outlets.