Hodge and Maher win Pura Cup Player of the Series

Victorian Bushrangers batsman Brad Hodge and Queensland Bulls star Jimmy Maher are joint winners of the 2001-02 Pura Cup Player of the Series, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today.

Hodge and Maher will share the $8000 award, which was voted by umpires on a 3-2-1 basis after each game of the series. Both players also receive a trophy from Pura, the competition's naming-rights sponsor.

The pair polled 16 votes each. A countback to determine one winner could not separate the two batsmen - both Hodge and Maher were awarded the same number of three, two and one votes.

Southern Redbacks' batsman Ben Johnson took second place with 14 votes. Johnson's team-mate Greg Blewett finished third with 13 votes.

In his 10 games, Maher (1085 runs) was the highest run-scorer for the domestic first-class season, topping fellow Queenslander Martin Love (981 runs). The 28-year-old scored three hundreds, including a highest score of 209 against the Southern Redbacks at The Gabba in February. He also scored five fifties.

The left-hander's string of scores and average of 67.81 helped him gain Australian selection for the one-day international leg of the 2002 Travelex Tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Hodge (858 runs), enjoyed another consistent season, scoring four hundreds including a top score of 140 against the Southern Redbacks in the opening match of the season. That match set the tone for Hodge's year as he went on to make hundreds in both innings.

Speaking from South Africa, Maher said he was delighted to win the award.

It's a great honour to be named Pura Cup Player of the Series, however with the Pura Cup final starting on Friday, I would happily exchange it for a third consecutive title," Maher said.

"I would like to congratulate Brad. He played some very good cricket throughout the year and deserves the award," he said.

Hodge said he was pleased to share the award with Maher, whom he regarded as the competition's stand-out player.

"Obviously it was a difficult year for the Bushrangers, and our overall performance was disappointing, however from a personal perspective it was nice to put some scores on the board," Hodge said.

"I feel privileged to be sharing the award with Jimmy Maher. He has dominated the competition this season, and has been rewarded with a chance to represent Australia," he said.

Pura Cup Player of the Series Voting