Rookie paceman Gurinder Sandhu wins Steve Waugh medal NSW quick Gurinder Sandhu has won the Steve Waugh medal. GURINDER Sandhu caused a boilover last night by becoming the first Indian and the first rookie to take out the prestigious Steve Waugh Medal last night. In what was a whirlwind six weeks to end the summer, Sandhu took 14 wickets in four Ryobi Cup games and 14 wickets in just two Sheffield Shield matches to clinch NSW's top gong. It was a remarkable effort by the giant right-arm quick, who only made his first-class debut at the start of this month. It was a mixed summer for the Blues, which started with most of the players celebrating the Champions League Twenty20 win in South Africa with the Sydney Sixers. However, Blues coach Anthony Stuart was shown the door in December, then chief executive David Gilbert exited in January before chairman Harry Harinath followed suit. NSW also failed to reach the finals in both the Sheffield Shield and one-day competition, while the Sixers and the winless Thunder did little in the Big Bash League. That was why the immediate success of Sandhu, a tall, 19-year-old paceman of Indian descent who lives in Blacktown - he also represented the Sydney Thunder - deserved to be celebrated at a gala night in the city. Sandhu, an Australian under-19s representative, also featured in the Prime Minister's XI match against the West Indies, and took four wickets in two Australia A games against England A. The Steve Waugh Medal was decided by a 3-2-1 vote system, and Sandhu rocketed home to finish three points clear of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and 13 ahead of fellow quick Trent Copeland. Sandhu also won the Ryobi Cup player of the year, beating Steve Smith and Haddin. Copeland was rated the best Shield player, Queensland cop Luke Feldman was deemed the Sydney Sixers best player, Dirk Nannes the Thunder's clear standout, while Alex Blackwell received the Belinda Clark Medal. Meanwhile, spinner Greg "Mo" Matthews, the late Amy Hudson and the late Norm O'Neill were inducted into the Blues' Hall of Fame.