Notches up an unprecedented third consecutive Stuart Medal
An outstanding season by a Macgibbon Shield Champion
We congratulate Trinity Willison Cricket Club's Premiership Captain Nick Sparks on winning the 2024-25 Ian Stuart Medal. The Stuart Medal is awarded to the best player in Macgibbon Shield based on the 3-2-1 votes made by the umpires at the completion of every match. This is Nick’s third consecutive Stuart Medal and caps yet another exceptional ECA season where he was also named as the Captain of the Macgibbon Shield Team of the Season as well as winning the overall batting average for the grade. He was voted the Player of the Match in the Grand Final, earning him the Tulloch Medal. Congratulations are also in order to Stephen Cotter, Malinga De Silva and Rishab Guddadamane for thier outstanding seasons also.
Stuart Medal FInal Count
- First: Nick Sparks, Trinity Willison (21 Votes)
- Second: Stephen Cotter, Clifton HIll (16 Votes)
- Equal Third, Malinga De Silva, Burwood Uniting Canterbury and Rishab Guddadamane, Burwood Uniting Canterbury (13 Votes)
It is hard to conceive how at any time in the near future how his performances this season are going to be bettered. In the Macgibbon Shield or any other ECA Grade for that matter.
This season, Nick amassed 975 runs with an average of 81.2 and a strike rate of 81.2. He hit two double centuries a century and four half centuries. His player of the match performance in the Macgibbon Shield Grand Final saw him take 5-21 off 16 overs. Including finals, for the season, he took 30 wickets at an average of 12.3.
When we spoke to him yesterday, Nick characteristically shied away from talking about his own performances instead preferring to focus on his team and their collective efforts to win the flag. In his words, his performances this season came from the motivation to ‘lead from the front’ as Trinity Willison had a younger side this season.
The first of his two double centuries came in the first Round of the season against St Pauls Oakleigh. Day 1 was cut short by rain so they were looking for quick runs when he resumed on 70 on day 2 before declaring. Although it was a great milestone, it was his first double ton, he regrets that he may have batted too long as their opponents last-wicket pair hung on for a draw. His team mates enjoy ‘getting into him about it’ but their were no complaints the second time around when he hit 207 against rivals Clifton Hill in Round 8 - a game they went on to win comfortably. Nick concedes a big shout by Malty Lynas for LBW against him when he was on about 30, on any other day could have been given out!
It is obvious from our conversation that Nick values the team environment and camaraderie more than his personal achievements. He says that support is ‘incredibly important’ in why he has sustained such a high level of performance over a number of years. Although the Structural Engineer is just 27 years old, and with little else to achieve in ECA, he says that he has no desire to try his hand in another league. He says the Macgibbon Shield standard is ‘really hard’ and every side has at least ‘four of five guys that are genuinely great cricketers.’
The Sparks family connection may be another reason for his reluctance to look elsewhere. Family and the connection to the club are really important to him. He plays with a group of mates who have all come through the junior program together. His father Paul Sparks is the Captain of the Club’s Third XI and his bothers Michael and James (who has just turned 18) are also with the club. Although Michael took a break this season. When we asked Nick about the motivation levels are going to be at the start of next season he is quick to point out that they will be fine. He expects there to be a number of new players vying for spots in the team, which he thinks is very important, and that it is up to the experienced players to be there to guide them. The Macgibbon Shield fraternity is strong - Nick says that he enjoys the friendship he has with a number of the teams and getting together on a Friday night to have a drink and a catch up. But they all play hard and fair when it comes to Saturday. On Burwood Uniting Canterbury’s Trinity Willison’s Grand Final opponent, Nick has great respect for them - they are a ‘good bunch of guys and even better cricketers.’ He feels they just played better on the day but he is sure BUCCC will be back stronger next year, better for the experience.
Click here to see Nick's full statistics for the season.
