JAMES LINCOLN’S outstanding performances with bat and ball this summer have won him recognition from the country’s top cricket magazine.

The 24-year-old St Lawrence and Highland Court all-rounder has been named South East Club Cricketer of the Year in a competition organised by The Wisden Cricketer.

Lincoln, who lives at Old Wives Lees, near Cantebury, finished the 2006 Shepherd Neame Kent League season with 601 Premier Division runs, scored at an average of 54.64. The stylish right-hander scored six 50s and a league-best unbeaten 106 against Sevenoaks.

A skiddy right-arm medium pacer Lincoln also took 36 wickets, including figures of five for 26 against Blackheath at Highland Court to earn the divisional bowling award for a third time.

The Saints vice-skipper was also a key member of the league’s representative team which won the Southern League Knock-Out Trophy.

Lincoln, who works in Human Resources at The Treasury, Westminster, admitted he was surprised to learn he had won the accolade, which is open to cricketers in the Kent, Surrey and Southern Electric Premier League (Hampshire).

He explained: "I was at home reading the Cricketer one Saturday morning and I just stumbled across my name. I did not even know about the award, but I’ve had a lot of text messages from friends since."