England county batsman Ian Cockbain was named the first XI Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year at Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club’s annual awards recently.
Cockbain topped the 2018-19 Western Province Cricket Association first division A’s run-scoring list with 834 in 14 innings.
He was among the top-performing overseas players in the 2018-19 WPCA first division A and premier league, which also featured Somerset’s Max Waller, Kent’s Darren Stevens and Northamptonshire’s Ben Curran, who represented Milnerton Cricket Club, Claremont Cricket Club and Cape Town Cricket Club, respectively.
Northerns Goodwood initially challenged for promotion to the 2019-20 premier league on the back of Cockbain’s fine form. The club ultimately avoided relegation to the first division B after his return to the United Kingdom.
The right-handed Cockbain played for Gloucestershire in the One-Day Cup last month, but has since been moved to the Second Eleven Trophy team – and struck a solid half-century in defeat to Glamorgan recently.
Meanwhile, Rondebosch Cricket Club seamer Jaime Valadao will play for Heathcoat Cricket Club during this year’s England summer and South African winter.
Valadao was a key member of Rondebosch Cricket Club’s 2018-19 premier league campaign. He took 17 wicket in as many matches at an average of 16.7.
“Valadao has been recommended to the premier division club by their former captain Bradley Barnes,” read a statement from Devon Cricket.
“South African Barnes, who played for Western Province, spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with Heathcoat before returning home.”