Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
New representatives to air player views at an executive level.
Nine new representatives, including four female domestic pros, have been confirmed as part of the PCA Players’ Committee ahead of the return of the LV= Insurance County Championship on Thursday 8 April.
From the men’s game, Sam Cook (Essex), Marcus O’Riordan (Kent), Martin Andersson (Middlesex) and Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), who are all preparing to return to competitive action next week, will all represent their respective dressing rooms moving forwards. Joe Leach (Worcestershire) will also take up the position on behalf of his county in a joint capacity alongside teammate and existing Players’ Committee member Ben Cox.
In addition, Sophie Luff (Central Sparks & Western Storm), Naomi Dattani (Lightning & Sunrisers), Alex Hartley (Northern Diamonds & Thunder) and Tara Norris (South East Stars & Southern Vipers) have all joined the Players’ Committee to represent the eight new women’s regional centres. Each of the quartet will represent two sides, one of which is their own.
The group of four also form more than half of the brand-new Women’s Player Committee alongside England Women captain Heather Knight, vice-captain Anya Shrubsole and the side’s existing rep on the Players’ Committee Kate Cross.
Knight will also act as Vice Chair alongside the newly elected Anuj Dal (Derbyshire), and both will sit under new Chair James Harris (Middlesex), whose election to the position was ratified at the PCA’s recent AGM.
“It’s fantastic that the female game and our new regional structure is represented and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the reps can have a real influence on important areas of our sport.”
SOPHIE LUFF, CENTRAL SPARKS & WESTERN STORM REP
The PCA Players’ Committee has the ability to vote on all issues affecting the whole of the PCA membership. Reps are also responsible for communicating PCA topics of discussion to their fellow teammates in their dressing rooms and liaising back to the PCA as well as raising any concerns within their team environment.
Being the voice in the dressing room, reps actively promote the PCA aims and objectives to work as a collective to champion the ongoing rights of professional players in England and Wales.
PCA Chair James Harris said: “With a huge summer of international and domestic cricket coming up, it’s never been more important for the views of the players to be properly represented at an executive level.
“I’m therefore delighted to welcome the new reps onto the PCA Players’ Committee, and in particular the four female reps who will make up over half of the brand-new Women’s Player Committee. This is another important step forward for the women’s game in England and Wales and I look forward to working with Sophie, Naomi, Alex and Tara in the future.”
Photo Credit: LinkedIn profile photo of James Harris
New Essex rep Sam Cook said: “I’m really looking forward to representing Essex as PCA rep. This is a vital role within the structure of professional cricket and I’m excited to begin working with our fellow reps in order to ensure players are fairly represented within the game.
“From a personal point of view, I also believe the role will be an excellent learning experience and help to provide me with transferable skills that I can take forward when I eventually transition out of the game.”
Central Sparks and Western Storm rep Sophie Luff said: “I’ve heard great things about the PCA and the work they do across the domestic game, so I put myself forward to be rep in order to get stuck in and find out firsthand what goes on.
“Anything I can do to help support our players and group is only going to benefit them and hopefully the wider game. It’s fantastic that the female game and our new regional structure is represented and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the reps can have a real influence on important areas of our sport.”
View the PCA Players’ Committee and Women’s Player Committee.
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.
