Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Essex and Sunrisers all-rounders claim July PCA Player of the Month awards.
Essex’s Paul Walter and Sunrisers’ Jodi Grewcock have been voted PCA Players of the Month for July following some fantastic form in domestic cricket.
The pair were shortlisted through the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by Argentex, for their performances in the month of July as the top four players according to the unique algorithm in the men’s and women’s game faced a public vote to determine the winners.
In the men’s category, Walter won 32.1% of the vote with Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins in second on 22.1%. Somerset’s duo of Matt Henry and Craig Overton were third and fourth respectively. Walter joins Matt Critchley, Matthew Montgomery and Higgins as Player of the Month winners this year.
For the women’s award, Grewcock earned 47.9% of the vote with Southern Vipers skipper Georgia Adams in second place on 27.1%. Northern Diamonds’ Lauren Winfield-Hill came third with Sophie Munro in fourth. Grewcock joins the South East Stars trio of Paige Scholfield, Phoebe Franklin and Bryony Smith as Player of the Month winners in 2023.
Walter voted July’s best player
The Essex all-rounder impressed during July with strong displays in First-Class and T20 cricket securing 136 MVP points.
The 29-year-old scored 236 runs and took 14 wickets with a phenomenal average of 12.3.
Despite losing the Vitality Blast final to Somerset, Walter produced a fantastic display with 3-29 and 26 with the bat.
In the LV= Insurance County Championship, the all-rounder helped his side to victory against Lancashire with innings of 76 and 24, backed up with useful match figures of 5-50.
Walter was presented his bespoke Mappin & Webb trophy for winning PCA Player of the Month whilst playing for Manchester Originals in The Hundred and described what it meant winning the award.
“It’s been a pretty good month for us as a team and I’m delighted to pick up the award, we’ve put in some good performances but now we’ve got some big games ahead as we try to chase Surrey down.
“Being able to impact the games has been satisfying, trying to contribute and win games for Essex is what I’m focusing on.
“Losing the Blast final was disappointing but I’m very proud that we managed to get there and push Somerset all the way who were the standout team and we’ll try and come back next year.
“I’m really happy to win the award and thanks to everyone that voted, it does mean a lot knowing it’s a public vote and people are recognising your performances.”
Grewcock wins July PCA Player of the Month
Sunrisers Jodi Grewcock enjoyed a strong month in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy having earned 50 MVP points.
The left-handed opening batter scored 78 runs and took seven wickets with a brilliant average of 13.7.
At just 18-years-old, Grewcock picked up a Match MVP award against Southern Vipers with a fantastic knock of 76 and then phenomenal figures of 4-45 helping her side to a 28-run victory.
The 39 MVP points she secured in that game is the highest number for a single Match MVP in the competition this year.
Grewcock received her bespoke Mappin & Webb trophy and described her surprise at winning the award.
“It meant a lot just to be nominated amongst three great players, so I’m honoured to be able to win it.
“I’m really happy with where my games is at and I’m enjoying contributing to the team.
“There’s frustration being towards the bottom of the table but we’ve shown we can beat the best in the competition.
“To actually win the award is phenomenal for me, I didn’t think I’d be in this position but it’s nice to win it with a vote and see that people are backing my performances, we have a strong fan base at Sunrisers so it’s nice to feel their support.
“I’ve got lots of aspirations for the future but first of all I want to contribute to Sunrisers winning games of cricket and then the dream has always been to try and play for England.”
Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the men’s and women’s tables.
Name of Author: Professional Cricketers Association
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), founded in 1967 by former England fast bowler Fred Rumsey as the Cricketers’ Association, represents past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales. In the 1970s, the PCA established a standard employment contract and minimum wage for professional cricketers. It also helped create a pension scheme in 1995 and launched the magazine All Out Cricket and the ACE UK Educational Programme in 2002.
