Improved Andrew secures player of the year (From Worcester News)

Improved Andrew secures player of the year

6:00am Friday 30th September 2011 in WCCC By Michael Reeves, twitter.com/michaelreevesWN

GARETH ANDREW: Worcestershire's player of the year.

GARETH Andrew has been crowned Worcestershire’s player of the year for 2011.

The all-rounder, ranked second in the country in the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s most valuable player list, was named the New Road side’s top performer across all forms of the game.

The 27-year-old, who took 52 wickets and scored 666 runs in the LV= County Championship as well as amassing 19 wickets and 250 runs in the Friends Life t20, beat veteran seamer Alan Richardson to the Rock Lobster MVP of the year award.

But 36-year-old Richardson, who claimed 73 wickets in the Championship to help the County maintain their Division One status, received two gongs at last night’s end-of-season player awards ceremony.

Richardson won the Dick Lygon Award for the second year running and the Cricket Society’s Champagne Moment for his 6-22 against champions Lancashire as Worcestershire secured a stunning 10-wicket success.

Andrew also picked up the BBC Hereford and Worcester accolade for the most breathtaking moment when he hit a six off the last over at Edgbaston to beat Warwickshire Bears in the Friends Life t20.

James Cameron collected The Kenyon Award for the finest first-class display of the season with his 98 against Lancashire over more than four-and-a-half hours.

Wicketkeeper Ben Scott claimed the Fans’ Forum fielder of the year gong, while Steve Leach won The Cotswold Group Brian Peters Academy player of the year.

Meanwhile, Moeen Ali, 24, is in the 13-man Potential England Performance Programme.

In the winter, the squad will train at the National Cricket Performance Centre before a three-week training camp in Sri Lanka.

Moeen will also feature in matches in Sri Lanka to enhance his skills.