Allrounder walks away with Ian Healy Trophy

Noffke's stunning season ends in multiple awards

Peter English

March 30, 2008

	Ashley Noffke became only the third Australian to complete the season double of 50 wickets and 500 runs © Getty Images

A pile of prizes went to Ashley Noffke on Saturday night as he gained more rewards for his outstanding domestic season with Queensland. Noffke, the third Australian to collect the 50-wicket, 500-run first-class double, claimed his second consecutive Ian Healy Trophy for the state's Player of the Year.

There was not much competition for Noffke after the Bulls finished last in the Pura Cup and missed the finals of the one-day and Twenty20 competitions. Noffke led the first-class batting with 741 runs at 46.31 - Ryan Broad was second on 566 - and the bowling with 51 wickets, 36 ahead of the second-placed Michael Kasprowicz. It was the first time a player had topped both Queensland lists since Ron Oxenham in 1936.

The returns pushed Noffke to international Twenty20 and one-day debuts and he should be a certainty to tour the West Indies with Australia in May. "I'm really happy I was able to put it all together this season," Noffke said.

"It's disappointing we didn't get the results we were after, but cricket is a game of roundabouts. It can be a long year when things don't go according to plan, but everyone stuck together really well and that's the true test of a side."

Noffke also picked up the state's award for the Pura Cup and the players' player prize while James Hopes won the FR Cup gong and Shane Watson was recognised for his belligerent Twenty20 batting. The Australian representative Jodie Purves collected the women's trophy for scoring 214 runs at 30.57 and claiming 16 dismissals in the national league.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo

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