Kent allrounder Joe Denly was the star of the show at last night’s PCA Awards, collecting four prizes for a brilliant season that has seen him earn England recognition.
Denly won the prestigious Reg Hayter Cup, the award for PCA Players’ Player of the Year, as his peers voted him ahead of fellow candidates Rory Burns, Rikki Clarke and Matt Henry.
To add to the headline award, Denly was also presented with the prizes for Royal London One-Day Cup Player of the Year and Vitality Blast Player of the Year as well as being named in the overall Team of the Year.
The recognition comes after Denly was named in the England Test squad for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka, off of the back of a career defining season which saw the Kent man score over 1,729 runs and take 57 wickets in all formats for his county.
Denly said: “Playing against fantastic crickets throughout the years and being recognised for your contribution to your team, and what you achieved in that year is something very special and to be proud of.”
After playing his maiden Test match for England this summer, Surrey’s Ollie Pope was named Young Player of the Year and presented with the John Arlott Cup.
Pope said: “It’s obviously an exciting time for county cricket and this country in general.
“It’s incredibly special and this makes it even more special.”
Sophie Ecclestone’s fabulous rise was rewarded as she was named Women’s Player of the Summer.
She said: “My family have worked so hard for me and I’ve worked hard for myself. It tops off an amazing year.”
On the England front, James Anderson was named Test Player of the Summer for the second consecutive year after a season that has seen the Lancastrian become the leading seam bowling wicket taker in history.
Anderson said: “I’d like to thank Specsavers for this award, it’s been a great summer for me personally and the team.
“Beating the number one side in the world quite convincingly 4-1 was a real highlight for me and the rest of the lads. We’re looking forward to even brighter things this winter.”
Jos Buttler was named One Day International Player of the Summer.
He said: “It was a great year and we have an even bigger year next year ahead of the World Cup, the boys are working hard and are looking forward to that.”
Full winners:
Reg Hayter Cup for the NatWest PCA Players’ Player of the Year: Joe Denly (Kent)
John Arlott Cup for the NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year: Ollie Pope (Surrey)
NatWest Women’s Player of the Summer: Sophie Ecclestone
Specsavers Test Player of the Summer: James Anderson
Royal London One Day International Player of the Summer: Jos Buttler
Greene King Team of the Year: Rory Burns – captain (Surrey), Alex Davies(Lancashire), Joe Denly (Kent), Ian Bell (Warwickshire / Birmingham Bears), James Vince (Hampshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Dane Vilas – wicketkeeper (Lancashire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), Matt Henry (Kent), Morne Morkel (Surrey)
PCA County Championship Player of the Year: Tom Bailey (Lancashire)
Vitality Blast Player of the Year: Joe Denly (Kent)
Royal London One-Day Cup Player of the Year: Joe Denly (Kent)
ECB Special Award: Mick Hunt
Harold Goldblatt Award for the PCA Umpire of the Year: Michael Gough
Greene King PCA England Masters Player of the Summer: Ali Brown
