Australian cricket fans are thinking outside the box and pushing for three outstanding limited overs cricketers – not just one – to be honoured on the domestic one-day trophy. After extensive input from the game’s key stakeholders and supporters, Cricket Australia has announced a shortlist of contenders for consideration – Dean Jones, Andrew Symonds and Michael Bevan.
The criteria for selection read: “An outstanding record in the men’s domestic one-day competition, Australia representation in the 50-over arena and deeds – both individual records and innovative approach – that are synonymous with the game’s inaugural short-format.”
The plan now is for the one-day trophy – associated with myriad sponsors during its 55-year history – to be named after either the late Jones or Symonds or adorned with Bevan’s name. It means the likes of Steve and Mark Waugh, David Warner, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist have been overlooked.
The decision was reached after Cricket Australia received more than 18,000 responses on their social media channels and online poll from fans nominating their preferences. Some of those same fans are now questioning why there is a need to discard two worthy contenders when all three men could be honoured.
Shortlist for new name of the one-day cup down to three
One suggestion garnering plenty of support is to name the trophy the Jones-Symonds-Bevan Cup. One fan wrote on Cricket Australia’s Facebook page: “The respective contributions that these three icons made towards the one-day game in Australia is immense and must never be overlooked nor forgotten.
“It would be tremendously unfair to two of these three if their contributions were not recognised in the naming of the trophy. I believe all three have, by both their careers and their achievements, earned the right for their names to adorn this award.”
Another added: “This short list is spot on and the only way to do our greatest one-day players justice is to name it after all three of them.”
Another proposal gathering momentum is to name the trophy after Symonds and Jones and award the Michael Bevan medal to the standout player in the one-day final. “I really like the suggestion I’ve seen here of the Jones-Symonds Cup, with the Player of the Final receiving the Bevan Medal as Bevo was the ultimate “Finisher”,” one fan declared.
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“That way all 3 of these legends can be honoured appropriately.” The credentials of all three players will be assessed by the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame committee before a recommendation is passed on to Cricket Australia.
A final decision is expected in coming weeks. “It is absolutely fitting that fan support has narrowed the shortlist to Michael Bevan, Dean Jones and Andrew Symonds and we know that whoever the trophy is named after in perpetuity will be thoroughly deserving of the honour,” CA’s Chief of Cricket, James Allsopp, said.
