Ben Stokes named PCA player of the year after phenomenal summer

The allrounder, who played a vital hand in securing England's first World Cup and produced one of the great Test innings as the hosts kept their Ashes hopes alive against Australia at Headingley, said he takes a lot of pride in receiving the award

England’s talismanic allrounder Ben Stokes was voted Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year at the end-of-season awards showpiece.

Stokes, who played a vital hand in securing England’s first ever World Cup and produced one of the great Test innings as England kept their Ashes hopes alive against Australia at Headingley, said he takes a lot of pride in receiving the award.

"You take a lot of personal pride when you receive this award because it's your peers that vote for you," he said.

"Earning this award is a huge moment and something I am very gracious of.

"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.

^{Tom Banton, Ben Stokes and Sophie Ecclestone}

"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."

The 28-year-old saw off competition from Essex’s Simon Harmer, Gloucestershire allrounder Ryan Higgins and Warwickshire opener Dom Sibley.

Elsewhere Somerset’s Tom Banton was named young player of the year after a fine season in both white-ball competitions that has seen him called up by England.

Sophie Ecclestone was voted women’s player of the summer - becoming the first to win the award multiple times having done so in 2018.

Award winners

Reg Hayter Cup for NatWest PCA Players' Player of the Year: Ben Stokes (England and Durham)

John Arlott Cup for PCA Young Player of the Year: Tom Banton (Somerset)

NatWest Women's Player of the Summer: Sophie Ecclestone (England)

Royal London ODI Player of the Summer: Chris Woakes (England)

Specsavers Test Player of the Summer: Stuart Broad (England)

Greene King Team of the Year: Billy Godleman (Derbyshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Wayne Madsen (Derbyshire), Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Ryan Higgins (Gloucestershire), Dane Vilas - wicketkeeper (Lancashire), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Simon Harmer - captain (Essex), Kyle Abbott (Hampshire), Ben Sanderson (Northamptonshire)