Fifteen-year-old all-rounder Ben Shearing has been named the first player-of-the-month in this summer’s Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance.
In a rain hit month Shearing’s performances for Swardeston A in Division 2 earned him the judges’ vote ahead of more seasoned campaigners.
Philip Bartram, of sponsors Lovewell Blake, said: “We are delighted to name Ben as our first player of the month. It is both exciting and rewarding to see a youngster making such an impact on senior league cricket.”
During May, Shearing, who lives at Hethersett and attends Wymondham High School, scored his maiden half-century and also bagged his first-ever five-wicket league haul.
One performance directly led to Swardeston recording an important win. After claiming 4-44, Shearing, a member of the Norfolk Under-15s, came to the crease with his side in a difficult position. Forty-nine balls later he had made an unbeaten 50, hitting five boundaries and two sixes, and steered his team to victory.
In another game against A he took 5-35 and had a hand in the first seven wickets to fall.
During May he took a total of 11 wickets and at the end of the month this earned him a call-up to Swardeston’s East Anglian Premier League team against Cambridge Granta and the Stan Biss Trophy match against .
Philip Bartram said: “Ben was up against some strong candidates such as Carl Rogers, of Great Witchingham, and Jeremy Wright, of Sheringham, but we felt his efforts were truly deserving of the award.”
Shearing, who was presented with a trophy and £100 worth of sports vouchers, has been in the news before, winning the man of the match award in the 2004 Allan Bridgewater Under-13 Trophy final when he took six wickets, including a hat-trick, in a Swardeston/CEYMS victory.
Swardeston A captain, Stuart Shearing, also Ben’s father, said: “At Swardeston the emphasis is very much on giving youngsters a chance, not just a game of cricket but a chance to participate fully in the game.
“Ben is a level-headed lad and knows he has set himself a high standard that he now has to live up to. I have no doubt that if he continues to work hard and listen to advice from seniors around him that he can achieve whatever he wants to at both club and county level.”
