Stokes wins PCA Players' Player of Year award
Ben Stokes was voted Players' Player of the Year at the Professional Cricketers' Association awards.
LONDON (AFP) - England all-rounder Ben Stokes was voted Players Player of the Year at the Professional Cricketers Association awards on Wednesday.
Stokes played a starring role in England s first 50-over World Cup triumph, culminating in his dynamic man-of-the-match display in their dramatic final win against New Zealand in July.
The 28-year-old then repeated his heroics with a superb match-winning 135 not out in the third Ashes Test against Australia.
While Australia retained the Ashes, England finished the series with a creditable draw.
Durham s Stokes was honoured for those achievements by scooping the Reg Hayter Cup ahead of fellow nominees Simon Harmer, Ryan Higgins and Dom Sibley.
"It s hard to put it into words. I am over the moon that players think I am worthy of winning the PCA Players Player of the Year through performances this summer," Stokes said.
"You can take a lot of personal pride when you receive this award because it s your peers that vote for you.
"Earning this award is a huge moment. While this is an individual award, it is within a team sport so I am only in this position because of what other guys in our squad have achieved as well.
"What we have done as a team in 2019 is phenomenal, to win the World Cup and draw the Ashes has been a fantastic summer and something I am proud of personally and as a team."
Somerset s Tom Banton picked up the PCA young player of the year, while England bowler Sophie Ecclestone collected the women s player of the summer.
Other award winners included ODI player of the summer Chris Woakes, Test player of the summer Stuart Broad, and County Championship player of the year Harmer.
