Historic double premiership honoured at MCC Cricket annual celebrations
The MCC Cricket Sporting Section celebrated major milestones from the most recent season at the annual Cricket Presentation Dinner at the MCG, formally recognising team and individual highlights.
The evening was headlined by the historic achievement of the Women’s First XI, becoming the first women’s team in MCC history to claim the T20 and One Day premierships in the same season - a remarkable milestone for the players and Club.
Members of the victorious One Day side were presented with premiership blazers in what remains a proud Club tradition.
This year’s presentation was made by ICC Hall of Famer and current MCC High Performance Coach, Karen Rolton. Five players received their first MCC premiership blazer following their inaugural First XI triumph, while six players added another premiership to their growing list of career achievements.
A special moment was reserved for Anna O’Donnell, who was formally recognised following her retirement. O’Donnell holds a significant place in Club history as the inaugural captain of the MCC Women’s team following its establishment in 2013.
The Men’s Under 18s inaugural premiership and the Men’s Third XI premiership were also recognised on the night. In total, MCC secured four premierships during the 2025/26 season, with 10 of the Club’s 11 sides qualifying for finals.
The opportunity to compete in finals and oversee the development of so many players and coaches reflects a highly successful campaign across all grades.
The evening also acknowledged the contributions of volunteers and recognised exceptional individual performances.
Blake Thomson claimed his fifth Club Champion award - the most by any player in the history of MCC Cricket - while Amy Yates secured her third, the most by any female MCC cricketer. Both players also received the Players’ MVP.
The Brian Watson Award, recognising the most outstanding or significant individual performance of the season, was awarded to Farzan Chowna. His extraordinary innings of 200* from 211 balls against Frankston Peninsula, part of an unbeaten opening partnership of 334*, broke the 90 year old record previously held by Keith Rigg and Bill Ponsford.
Emerging talent was also acknowledged, with Nikki Du Toit and Lily Parker named XXIX Club Youth Cricketers of the Year for their outstanding seasons.
The Best Club Person award was presented to Alex Cornelius for her exceptional contributions on and off field, and ongoing commitment to the MCC community.
