Nicole Bolton wins third Zoe Goss Medal in WACA Awards

Nicole Bolton won the Zoe Goss Medal for her performances in 2019-20 for Western Australia, it was announced on Wednesday (April 1). It is the third time Bolton has won the award.

“It’s a strange feeling actually,” said Bolton.

“With everything going around the world at the moment, the (next) season seems so far away. So it was a bit of mixed emotions. Excited to have won my third Zoe Goss (Medal) but a bit of a weird one not being able to celebrate it with close friends and family.”

With the world potentially under a lockdown owing to the coronavirus outbreak, all sporting activities around the world have been suspended.

Bolton had a stellar Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), leading the run-scoring charts with 436 runs in nine games at an impressive average of 48.44. She was the first Western Australia player ever to score over 400 runs in a season. She also chipped in with 16 wickets, second-most for the team and third overall. Unsurprisingly, she was adjudged as the player of the tournament.

“I wanted to play whatever role WA wanted me to play and I think I was able to be quite consistent,” she said. “A bit of change in my batting role reinvigorated my passion for game and I could find different ways to contribute to the team.”

England’s Natalie Sciver, who turned up for Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League, won the WBBL Player of the Year award. The English allrounder made 342 runs in the competition and had six wickets to her name as well.

Karen Read, former Australian cricketer, was inducted into the WA Cricket Gallery of Greats. Meanwhile Ashley Day, who had an impressive debut season, was adjudged the Female Rising Star, while Kath Hempenstall took away the values-based Legacy Award.