Western Australian cricket prodigy Cooper Connolly has been honoured with one of the nation's most prestigious youth awards, named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.
A Stellar Season Recognised
The 22-year-old allrounder received the award in recognition of his outstanding performances during the last Big Bash League summer, which marked the beginning of the voting period. Connolly's dominant form for the Perth Scorchers saw him clinch the Player of the Tournament title, delivering match-winning contributions with both bat and ball.
His remarkable year also included representing Australia across all three formats of the game. Connolly made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in February 2025, capping a rapid rise through the ranks of Australian cricket.
In Elite Company
Connolly described the accolade as "humbling," acknowledging the legendary company he now joins. Past winners of the award include modern greats like David Warner, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, and his current Perth Scorchers and Western Australian teammate, Jhye Richardson.
"The award is named after the Don so it's special to be a part of that group," Connolly said. "To see the previous winners, it's always exciting to be part of that. There's been a lot of cricket played over the last 12 months. I haven't really had time to sit down and soak it all in. I'm just honoured to win this award, it's special and it was nice to receive it from Richo (Jhye Richardson)."
Gratitude and Future Focus
The rising star expressed deep appreciation for the support system behind his success. "I'm enormously grateful for all the support I've had from coaches, teammates and support staff at WA Cricket," Connolly stated.
Despite the individual honour, his focus remains firmly on team success. "I'm looking forward to the upcoming BBL finals campaign and am excited at the prospect of being a part of the Scorchers' sixth BBL title," he added, highlighting his commitment to the Perth-based franchise.
Connolly's win continues a strong tradition for West Australian cricketers. He becomes the fourth player from WA to claim the Young Cricketer prize in the past decade, following in the footsteps of Hilton Cartwright (2017), Jhye Richardson (2018), and Lance Morris (2023).
