With an outstanding all-around season for Hampshire that saw him take 71 wickets in all forms and score 1,280 runs, Liam Dawson became the first domestic cricketer to win the coveted PCA Men’s Player of the Year title since 2018. He also topped the Overall MVP chart by a significant margin.
Dawson takes over from Harry Brook, the winner from the previous year. Based on their achievements for England, Jonny Bairstow (2022), Joe Root (2021), Chris Woakes (2020), and Ben Stokes (2019) also secured the honor. Joe Denly excelled in all formats for Kent for Kent in 2018 and was the final county player to win the accolade.
Dawson won four awards at the PCA’s gala dinner in London on Tuesday, including the Vitality County Championship Player of the Year, PCA Men’s Domestic Overall MVP, and captain of the IG PCA Men’s Team of the Year. Cinch sponsors the Player of the Year award.
Dawson remarked after winning the award, “It’s a huge honor. Although I had a great season the previous year, having an even better one this year makes it all come together.
The women’s player of the Year is Kathryn Bryce of Scotland, now training in the United Arab Emirates for the Women’s T20 World Cup. Bryce led The Blaze to the Charlotte Edwards Cup earlier this summer. In addition, she won the Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of the Year and PCA Women’s Domestic Overall MVP while leading the Metro Bank PCA Women’s Team of the Year.
After becoming the first non-English player to win the top award and finishing as the tournament’s leading run scorer with 478 runs, Bryce said, “It’s been a brilliant year. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the PCA, Cinch, and all of the voters for this year, which I will always remember. I want to continue playing cricket as much as I can in different parts of the world; perhaps, if I can continue to play half as well as I am now, I’ll have a successful career.”
After making his Test debut against the West Indies at Lord’s in June, Smith, 24, made an immediate mark across formats. He also amassed 677 runs in Surrey’s most recent County Championship victory.
Being in the England dressing room is a fantastic experience; I perform at my best when smiling and dare to take risks and be assertive.” “Nailing down my skills and performing on the pitch is where my game has grown,” she stated.
James Anderson received the Special Merit award after quitting his international career earlier this year. In contrast, former England and Glamorgan batter and coach Matthew Maynard received the PCA Outstanding Contribution Award for his work with the Tom Maynard Trust, named in memory of his son, who passed away in 2012.
The players voted Neil Bainton and Anna Harris as PCA’s Umpires of the Year, and England’s Brook and Lauren Bell received the Rado Recognition award.
“It has been another incredible year across men’s and women’s international and domestic cricket,” stated Daryl Mitchell, interim chief executive of PCA. Being able to honor all of our honourees at cricket’s most esteemed awards ceremony is always a privilege.