Just 24 hours after being named as one of three players unanimously voted into the KFC BBL|11 Team of the Tournament, McDermott has been recognised with even more individual honours, after he became the first player in BBL history to score centuries in consecutive matches, plundering 110 not out against the Adelaide Strikers on December 27 before backing that up 48 hours later with 127 against the Melbourne Renegades.
In doing so, the 27-year-old became the first player to score three career BBL centuries, narrowly missing out on another when scoring 93 against the Brisbane Heat on January 8.
The Hurricanes opener ended KFC BBL|11 with 577 runs – the fourth-highest single season tally in BBL history - at 48.08 apiece and a strike rate of 153.86, despite missing the first two games of the season after a freak training accident on the eve of the tournament saw him require surgery.
McDermott currently sits 90 runs clear of Adelaide’s Matt Short in the BKT Golden Bat standings, with Short due to line up in The Challenger at the SCG on Wednesday night.
McDermott’s prolific season saw him break into the all-time top 10 run-scorer’s list since the competition’s inception, with his cumulative tally now sitting at 2,139 runs from 74 games. He also became the fourth player to hit 100 BBL sixes during this season’s final home and away game against the Melbourne Stars.
His contribution to the Hurricanes’ Finals-bound campaign also stretched into the field, taking the wicket keeping gloves on six occasions for four catches and one stumping. He also claimed another five outfield catches.
The KFC BBL|11 Player of the Tournament is voted on by match officials at the 56 home and away matches throughout the season. McDermott tallied 25 votes to finish three clear of Melbourne Stars pair Joe Clarke and Glenn Maxwell, who tied for second place with 22 votes each.
Hobart Hurricanes journeyman, Tom Rogers, also featured in the top 10 in the Player of the Tournament votes, finishing in equal eighth position with Sydney Sixers captain, Moises Henriques, on 15 votes.
KFC BBL|11 Player of the Tournament votes
Rank |
Player |
Club |
Votes |
1 |
Ben McDermott |
Hobart Hurricanes |
25 |
=2 |
Joe Clarke |
Melbourne Stars |
22 |
=2 |
Glenn Maxwell |
Melbourne Stars |
22 |
=4 |
Mitchell Marsh |
Perth Scorchers |
21 |
=4 |
Matt Short |
Adelaide Strikers |
21 |
6 |
Daniel Sams |
Sydney Thunder |
17 |
7 |
Josh Philippe |
Sydney Sixers |
16 |
=8 |
Moises Henriques |
Sydney Sixers |
15 |
=8 |
Tom Rogers |
Hobart Hurricanes |
15 |
=10 |
Aaron Finch |
Melbourne Renegades |
14 |
=10 |
Kurtis Patterson |
Perth Scorchers |
14 |