Alex Blackwell and Steven Smith have taken out the Belinda Clark and Steve Waugh Medal respectively

Sports Shoot / Delly Carr

RTA SpeedBlitz Blues all-rounder Steven Smith is the 2009/10 Steve Waugh Medallist while NSW Breakers batter Alex Blackwell has taken out the Belinda Clark Medal. Both awards were presented during the Steve Waugh Medal Dinner held at the Hilton Hotel last night (March 14).

The Steve Waugh Medal and Belinda Clark Medal are presented to the Players of the Year for the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues and NSW Breakers respectively.

The Steve Waugh Medal is decided through a 3-2-1 vote by players at the end of each Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield, Ford Ranger Cup and KFC Twenty20 Big Bash match. In addition this year votes were gained from the Champions League in India. The votes from all matches are combined to determine the winner.

After a phenomenal season in all forms of the game Steven Smith was the clear winner this season with 362 votes, finishing 159 votes clear of Phillip Hughes, with 203 votes.

Smith was outstanding all summer scoring 772 runs in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield at an average of 77.2 with four centuries. He also added 21 wickets including a career-best 7 for 87. He was no less impressive in the one-day format scoring 318 runs at an average of 53 in the Ford Ranger Cup as well as contributing heavily to the KFC Big Bash campaign. Smith also starred in the Champions League in India, scoring 33 and taking 2 wickets in the Final of the Tournament.

Smith also won the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Player of the Year award in convincing fashion. He finished with 139 votes to top Phillip Hughes (106 votes) who had an excellent season with 953 runs at an average of 56.05.

The Ford Ranger Cup Player of the Year was also won by Smith with 138 votes, 63 votes clear of Josh Hazlewood (75 votes). Smith scored 318 runs at 53, as well as taking 9 wickets and fielding brilliantly.

David Warner took out the Twenty20 Player of the Year gaining 171 votes to beat Steven Smith (85 votes).

Breakers batter Alex Blackwell wins the Belinda Clark Medal for the first time after a superb season in which she starred.

The NSW vice-captain was outstanding in both forms of the game this summer. Opening the batting, she was the second highest run scorer in the 50 over National League competition with 489 runs at an average of 61.13.

Her tally included two centuries, 121 not out against the ACT and 138 against Western Australia. She also made a vital 54 in the Final against Victoria at the MCG.

In Twenty20 cricket she was the third leading run scorer with 191 runs at 47.75, and a strike rate of 121.17.

Blackwell finished the season by captaining the Australian women’s team against New Zealand where the Southern Stars won both Rose Bowl Series.

The Belinda Clark Medal is decided by the players through a 3-2-1 vote at the end of each WNCL match.

Following the inception of a Women's Domestic Twenty20 competition this summer, for the first time seperate awards were also presented to the NSW Breakers National League and Twenty20 Players of the Year.

NSW captain, Lisa Sthalekar, won the National League Player of the Year Award. She made 348 runs at an average of 49.71 and took 13 wickets at 18.15.

Off-spinner Erin Osborne was named Twenty20 Player of the Year after another impressive summer. She was the Breakers’ leading bowler in this format with eight wickets at an average of 16.63 and economy rate of 5.12.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert congratulated both Smith and Blackwell on their Awards.

“Steven and Alex have both had fantastic seasons representing NSW this year,” said Gilbert.

“Steven’s performances were outstanding and winning the Steve Waugh Medal is a just reward for his ability to score runs and take wickets in all forms of the game and at vital times.

“Alex has also had an impressive summer and her form with the bat has been a tribute to both her talent and effort throughout the summer,” he said.

During the evening Cricket NSW also presented Rising Star Awards to young opening batsman Nic Maddinson and Breakers wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy.

Nic, who plays for the Sutherland club, has had a superb season at Grade level scoring 466 runs at 46.6. In addition he has represented the NSW 2nd X1 and was part of the successful Australian U19 side that won the World Cup in New Zealand.

Alyssa had a phenomenal summer, setting a new record for dismissals by a ‘keeper in the National League competition with 11 catches and nine stumpings. She was also the leading ‘keeper in the Twenty20 format with five catches and seven stumpings.

After several summers in the Australian U/21 team, this season Alyssa also received her first call up to the senior Australian team, making her One-Day International debut against New Zealand in Adelaide. It made her the second member of her family to keep wicket for Australia, following in the footsteps of her uncle, Ian Healy.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

This year there are three inductees into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame ;

Lyn Larsen

Lyn Larsen was a Right Hand Bat, Right Arm Leg-Spin & Born in Lismore NSW

Played for NSW (1983/84 – 1992/93)

- 76 matches with 945 runs at 26.25

- 95 wickets at 14.34 with Best Bowling of 6-20

- Captained NSW in 49 matches for 36 wins, seven draws and six losses. Lyn Larsen first represented NSW as a 16-year-old

She first played for NSW as a leg-spinner however she quickly developed into a fine all-rounder.

Played for Australia (1984 – 1994)

- 15 Test matches and 49 One Day Internationals

- 410 Test runs at 41 with 26 Test wickets at 18.73

- She captained Australia between 1986 and 1993, including victory at the 1988 World Cup

She was just 22 when she took over as Australian captain in 1986, making her the youngest player to hold the post.

During the eight years of her leadership, Australia was undefeated in Test matches and won nine of their 11 Limited Overs series, making her the most successful captain in the history of Australian women’s cricket.

Lyn Larsen was highly regarded as an astute tactician whose understanding of the Limited Overs game in particular, contributed to Australia’s success over a long period of time.

The Late Stan McCabe
Stan McCabe played for New South Wales (1928/29 to 1941/42)

- 55 matches, 4556 runs at 54.23 with 9 hundreds and 34 half-centuries.

- For New South Wales in 1931/32, he scored 582 runs in six innings at an average of 194. This is the highest average ever for one season for New South Wales for those scoring over 500 runs

- In his first 10 matches for New South Wales, Stan scored 10 half-centuries. His first century (161 against Queensland in November 1930) came in his 13th match and 20th innings. It took him to 1027 runs for New South Wales. Only Don Bradman (19 innings) had then reached that mark faster (in terms of innings) and only Arthur Morris (18 innings) and Rick McCosker (17 innings) have subsequently reached 1000 runs for New South Wales more quickly.

- Stan captained New South Wales 24 times, winning 16 (66.6%)

Played for Australia (1930 to 1938)

- 39 matches, 2748 runs at 48.21 with 6 centuries

- In the tough 'Bodyline' Series he scored 385 runs at an average of nearly 43

- Scored 232 not out against England in 1938 causing Bradman to say "If I could play an innings like that, I'd be a proud man, Stan"

- Sir Leonard Hutton said he had qualities that "even Bradman didn't have"

- Also a handy medium pace bowler he took 36 Test wickets and 41 catches

Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh played for New South Wales (1985/86 - 2003/04)

- 108 matches, 8416 runs at 53.27 with 25 hundreds

- 2nd highest run scorer in the history of NSW Cricket behind Michael Bevan

- Former team-mate Mark Taylor said he was 'the best leg-side player he had seen in his time'

- holds the record for the 2nd highest number of catches for the State (124 behind Mark Taylor's 132)

- Holds record for highest ever partnership for the State for any wicket (unbeaten 464 v WA in Perth in 1990/91 with brother Steve)

Played for Australia (1990/91 to 2002/03)

128 Test matches. 8029 runs at 41.81 with 20 centuries

244 Limited-overs Internationals. 8500 runs at 39.35. 18 centuries. 85 wickets

- Mark held the record for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper until Rahul Dravid broke it in 2009

- Scored 138 on Test debut v England in Adelaide in 1991. When informed he was in the side by brother Steve he asked who's place he had taken and Steve said with a smile 'mine!'

- Scored Three centuries while helping Australia win the 1996 World Cup and is the only man to achieve this feat in a World Cup

One of the most elegant and gifted stroke makers the game has ever seen and now a highly successful cricket commentator with Fox Sports

STEVE WAUGH MEDAL DINNER
AWARD WINNERS

Steve Waugh Medal
1. Steven Smith – 362 votes
2. Phillip Hughes – 203 votes
3. David Warner – 194 votes

Belinda Clark Medal
1. Alex Blackwell – 213 votes
2. Lisa Sthalekar – 207 votes
3. Erin Osborne – 186 votes

Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Player of the Year
1. Steven Smith – 139 votes
2. Phillip Hughes – 106 votes
3. Trent Copeland – 91 votes

Ford Ranger Cup Player of the Year
1. Steven Smith - 138 pts
2. Josh Hazlewood – 75pts
3. Phil Jaques – 73 pts

Twenty20 Player of the Year
1. David Warner – 171 pts
2. Steven Smith – 85 pts
3. Phillip Hughes – 77 pts

Cricket NSW Rising Stars
Nic Maddinson
Alyssa Healy

Cricket NSW Hall of Fame Inductees
Lyn Larsen
The late Stan McCabe
Mark Waugh