Stratford captain Dexter Purser named the Warwickshire League's cricketer of the year

SKIPPER Dexter Purser was humbled to have been named cricketer of the year for the whole of the Warwickshire League after a stellar season with Stratford.

The 28-year-old admitted he had played some of the best cricket in his career after guiding the Panthers to the Premier Division title, pipping much-fancied Walmley on the final day of a rollercoaster season.

Purser ended a thrilling campaign with 763 runs at an average of 42.39, hit two 150-plus scores (including a personal best of 161 not out), claimed 18 wickets at an average of 14.11, had a best bowling return of 6-42 and made seven catches.

Although surprised to have scooped the top Warwickshire League award, Purser was quick to stress it was team effort.

"I don't really like talking about myself. It was a really good season for the club and it's one of the most enjoyable ones to have taken part in after a difficult 2020 due to Covid-19," he told the Herald.

"It was brilliant to get back to some sense of normality last season and I loved every minute of it. The highlight will be the final day of the season. Although I did not contribute with the bat, finding out Walmley had lost at Sutton Coldfield to give us the title was something that could not have been played out any better."

"Finding out I was named cricketer of the year for the whole of the Warwickshire League was a surprise.

"I feel like I played some of the best cricket in my career in 2021. I'm now coming into my prime and I feel I've got more experience, but I'm also continuing to learn more."

He added: "It's been a long time since I have played that well, but there were some bad patches. There was about four games in a row where I scored two runs in total, but that's part and parcel of cricket.

"As captain you also have to make decisions and you don't make the right ones all the time, but that's the nature of the sport."

Purser will be staying on as skipper for the forthcoming season, with training set to resume at the end of January.

The Panthers are also looking to bolster all their squads, not just the first XI, ahead of the 2022 campaign.