The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) are keen to recognise the quality of cricket played throughout all Senior Leagues with 2014 seeing the introduction of a Player of the Year Awards.

There will be a Player of the Year award up for grabs in each of Senior Leagues 1, 2 and 3 which will be presented to the winning players at the NCU annual dinner in the autumn alongside the current player awards for the Premier League.

Neale Matthews, NCU Domestic Cricket Director said: “The introduction of the Player of the Year in the Senior Leagues demonstrates the willingness of the NCU to recognise the quality cricket played within the Union and which the players richly deserve as they entertain us each week.”

The award will be decided by the Clubs within each league, with each club having one vote for a player from another club (clubs cannot vote for a player from their own club), with the deciding vote n the event of a tie being with the league secretary.

Further to the introduction of the Player of the Year the NCU wants to emphasise the importance of contributions throughout the Union both on and off the field. The Jim McMorran Award for voluntary services to cricket recognises the exceptional contributions of individuals to club life and has become established as an end of season fixture. It is anticipated the Player of the Year Awards will become the same.

The Jim McMorran award in the last two years has been awarded to Arthur Bowron from Templepatrick and Billy McCormick from Holywood. Most clubs will have individuals who are their 'life blood' and the NCU would encourage clubs to put their unsung heroes forward for consideration. Nominations will open later in season and details will be published on the NCU website.

Full details for the Player of the Year will be published on the NCU website in due course.