South Australia’s Jake Lehman has won Cricket Australia’s Men’s National Player of the Year award less than a month after switching allegiance and defecting to the UK on a British passport.
Since the start of last summer, the 33-year-old has amassed 1176 Sheffield Shield runs at 43.55, including six centuries, helping South Australia win their first red-ball title in 29 years. Despite starting the 2024/25 season in South Australia’s second eleven team, he finished the summer as the competition’s third-leading scorer.
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On Tuesday, California announced that Lehman was named this season’s Men’s National Player of the Year. The award was previously won by his father, Australian cricket legend Darren, three times.
During the voting period, the left-handed pitcher hit hundreds in four consecutive Sheffield Shield games, including the victorious final against Queensland in Adelaide in March.
“I was a little shocked,” Lehman said in a statement.
“I felt like I had played some really good cricket over the last 18 months so it’s always special to be recognized by opponents and teammates and I’m grateful to have been recognized.”
“It’s such an honor. Throughout my career I’ve looked up to these players and aspired to be like them. I’ve tried to emulate some of the things they’ve done over the years, so to see their names against mine and be recognized in that way is just an honor.”
Last month, Lehman gave up on his dream of following in his father’s footsteps as an Australian representative and signed a two-year contract with Hampshire as a local player through his British passport. The closest he came to an international call-up was in 2016 when he was selected to play for Australia A.
By committing his future to England, Lehmann is no longer eligible to play international cricket for Australia under ICC rules, but will need to register as an overseas player to play in the upcoming Sheffield Shield.
“The timing feels right,” Lehman explained to ESPNcricinfo last month.
“It’s always been a dream and a goal, but only a few people achieve it (playing for Australia).
“Unfortunately, I am not obliged to do so, but I am also grateful to have been able to play first-class cricket for the past 12 years and to have been able to give back to Australian cricket in some way.”
Elsewhere, Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman has signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire in the County Championship, giving up on his dream of wearing the baggy green.
The 33-year-old, who previously captained Australia A and represented the U-19 national team, was born in England and moved to Australia when he was three years old. He was instrumental in Western Australia’s recent Sheffield Shield three-peat and was named in the finals three times.
“The timing was perfect for me to return to the UK and the opportunity to sign for Yorkshire came along and was too good to turn down,” Whiteman said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Western Australian young talent Cooper Connolly has made his national debut in all three formats over the past 18 months and won the prestigious Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Award. Previous winners include Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Phil Hughes and David Warner.
“This award is named after Don, so it’s special to be part of that group, and it’s special to see the past recipients. It’s always exciting to be a part of that,” Connolly said in a statement.
“I am very grateful for the support from my coaches, teammates and support staff at WA Cricket.
“I am looking forward to the upcoming BBL Finals campaign and am excited to be able to help the Scorchers to their sixth BBL title.”