Hopkins secures Domestic Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP
Hopkins takes out prestigious Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP honour
Gareth Hopkins is the Fujitsu Heat Pumps Most Valuable Player in domestic cricket for 2011/12.
The Auckland Aces have been consistent across all competitions this summer and they can thank the MVP performance and determination of their captain, Gareth Hopkins as a key driver in their success. Hopkins was the model of consistency this summer and typical of many wicket keeper batmen, managed to play a key role in all formats without necessarily occupying the headlines.
Hopkins is the first wicket keeper batsman to win the overall MVP award since its introduction four seasons ago. Modern cricketers are increasingly required to perform multiple roles and it is testament to Hopkins skill as a batsman, wicket keeper and captain that enabled him to head all other contenders for the Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP rankings. Hopkins win reinforces the strength of the MVP formula in measuring the total contribution a player makes to their team, whether it be batting, bowling, fielding or as captain and importantly includes winning as an important measure of performance.
"It is a great honour to be recognised as the overall Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP this season. The best thing is to know that my performances have been part of the team's success this summer, which was highlighted by our winning of the HRV Cup for the second season in succession" said Hopkins.
Gareth Hopkins finished the season with 300.73 MVP points which was a narrow 0.68 points ahead of Otago Volts spearhead Neil Wagner. In fact the top five spots on the MVP table were separated by only 10.61 MVP points which was the closest finish to the overall Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP rankings award since its inception. Experienced domestic cricketers Matthew Sinclair, Andrew Ellis and James Franklin rounded out the top five.
Underpinning Hopkins Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP award was a solid season with the bat, highlighted by two centuries and two half centuries in the Plunket Shield, where he scored 523 runs at 47.54. While Hopkins generally bats lower in the order, it was his ability to score quickly in the shorter formats that ensured he picked up MVP batting points across all three formats of the game.
Hopkins won a $500 prize, courtesy of Fujitsu Heat Pumps for being domestic cricket's most valuable player this summer.
Neil Wagner was second on the Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP table after another strong season for the Otago Volts with 300.05 points. Matthew Sinclair shows no signs of slowing down in his 17th First Class season compiling 806 runs (average 53.93) to top the Plunket Shield runs scoring list and finish 3rd on the Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP overall table.
Sinclair was also the batting Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP this season with 254.93 MVP points. George Worker's move to the Canterbury Wizards was a success and earned him second place on the overall MVP batting table with 217.90 points. Retiring history making Otago Volts batsman Craig Cumming rounded out the top three batters on the MVP table.
The bowling Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP table was topped by Neil Wagner for the second successive season. Wagner captured 46 wickets (average 26.32) in First Class cricket with three 5 wicket bags and resulted in a total of 244.10 MVP points. Bruce Martin was the second highest First Class wicket taker with 37 that resulted in his second placing on the Fujtisu Heat Pumps MVP bowling table with 211.02 MVP points. Wellington Firebirds opening bowler Andy McKay rounded out the top three most valuable bowlers this summer with 192.45 points.
