Sussex men’s end of season awards, as well as a chairman’s award, were presented on Thursday following the conclusion of the final match of the campaign.
The ‘Champagne moment’ performance of the year award was the first to be presented. Ollie Robinson was the recipient for his 14 wickets in the County Championship fixture against Middlesex at The 1st Central County Ground in August. Ollie took 8 for 34 in the first innings and 6 for 101 in the second to help Sussex to victory and finish with the best match figures for a Sussex bowler since 1964.
Robinson was also named as the four-day player of the year, an award he won last season a well. Ollie took 63 County Championship wickets in just eleven matches at an average of 16.44, including six five-wicket hauls and three ten wickets in a match, more than anyone else in the country. As well as being Sussex’s leading wicket-taker for the second year in a row, his economy rate of 2.72 runs per over was the team’s best. Ollie’s consistent performances also led to a first England Lions call up during the summer.
For the second year in a row, Phil Salt was named young player of the year. The 23-year-old was Sussex Sharks’ top-scorer in the Vitality Blast with 406 runs at a strike-rate of 161.11, including a career-best 78 not out against Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground. Phil also contributed 241 runs at an average of 40.16 in the Royal London One-Day Cup, with his 137 not out against Kent Spitfires at Beckenham also a career-best. In the Championship, Phil scored 603 runs including two centuries against Northamptonshire & Glamorgan. He has also proved invaluable in the field, taking a total of 29 catches across the three formats.
David Wiese was the winner of the one-day player of the year. The all-rounder topped Sussex’s averages in the Royal London One-Day cup, scoring 395 runs at 98.75, including a county record 171 against Hampshire and three other scores of fifty or more. David also scored 284 runs in the Vitality Blast, with an average of 40.57 and a strike-rate of 149.47. With the ball, he took four wickets in the Blast and six in the One-Day Cup.
David was also named team man of the year. His commitment to his fitness and the cause saw him play every game in every competition
Retiring first-team scorer Mike Charman was presented with a chairman’s award in recognition of nearly two decades of service to Sussex during which time he has scored over 600 matches.