Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder and Sussex batter win prizes.
Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder Ellyse Perry and Sussex and Southern Brave batter Daniel Hughes have been voted the PCA Players of the Month for July following some remarkable displays in the domestic game.
The pair were shortlisted through the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, for their fantastic performances in July as the top four players according to the unique algorithm from the men’s and women’s game faced a public vote. The winners were decided by a 50:50 split between the PCA MVP Rankings and the supporters poll.
In the women’s game, Perry finished just one MVP point behind her compatriot Heather Graham but a strong public vote for Perry ensured she won the award. Trent Rockets all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt secured second place, with Graham third and Bryony Smith in fourth.
For the men’s category, Hughes secured over 40% of the public vote, taking him from fourth on the MVP standings to securing the Player of the Month trophy. Somerset teammates Lewis Goldsworthy and Tom Banton finished in second and fourth respectively with Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson in third.
Perry voted best player in July
The Australian all-rounder produced two remarkable performances in the first three games of this year’s Hundred competition, earning 78 MVP points.
The 33-year-old scored 131 runs in the month, averaging 43.6 and also took a wicket with the ball.
Against London Spirit, Perry earned a Match MVP and 36 MVP points for 65 off 48 balls, which included eight fours and one six.
Another Match MVP came in the game against Trent Rockets where Perry scored a breath-taking 66 off 34 balls with six fours and four sixes, alongside figures of 1-10 with the ball, earning 39 MVP points.
Perry will receive a bespoke Mappin & Webb trophy and spoke about winning the Player of the Month award.
“It’s certainly a surprise, and a lovely one at that. It’s been such an enjoyable time here in The Hundred and I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be playing with such a cool team of people at the Phoenix.
“I really enjoyed the time out in the middle and the chance to put together partnerships with Soph (Sophie Devine) and Steere (Steere Kallis) in those matches. We’ve had contributions right the way across our batting line-up so far which is awesome.
“We’re all really enjoying playing together and I think everything we’ve done on the field has been with positivity and energy which is all you can ask. But it’s exciting to see where the competition will go from here, it’s so open.
“I’m just really appreciative for the opportunity to play in such a cool competition and it’s been great to have so many fans come out and watch our matches. They’ve made it fantastic.”
Hughes wins July PCA Player of the Month
For Sussex in the Vitality Blast, Hughes won two match MVP awards, firstly against Glamorgan for a blistering knock of 74 off 38 balls, securing 39 MVP points.
The 35-year-old’s second Match MVP of the month came against Middlesex at Hove helping his side to a nine-wicket win thanks to an astounding unbeaten 96 from 54 balls, which included 12 fours and three sixes, amassing a further 40 MVP points.
Hughes was drafted into The Hundred as a replacement player and scored 45 off just 30 balls in his solitary game for Southern Brave, helping them to victory over London Spirit by seven wickets.
Hughes will also receive a bespoke Mappin & Webb trophy when he returns to the country for the next round of Sussex’s Vitality County Championship campaign and described what it was like to win the accolade.
“I think the team being in a really good place and playing with confidence definitely helps, plus being in the top order and being able to bat in the power play makes my job a little easier.
“It’s always nice to get runs when you’re chasing and to contribute to a win. It was also to get us to a home quarter final and my parents’ (who were visiting from Australia) last game so the unbeaten 96 was extra special.
“It’s always nice to be recognised by the fans and to have a fan base but for the English fans to be voting for me makes it even nicer.”
Find out more about the MVP Rankings and view the domestic 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.
