Somerset all-rounder Craig Overton and captain Sophie Luff secured the top accolades at the 2026 PCA awards at Exhibition White City, earning men’s and women’s player of the year honors following standout domestic and international campaigns.
Craig Overton Claims a PCA Awards Quadruple After Stellar Summer
Overton enjoyed a dominant campaign across formats, collecting four separate honors at the Exhibition White City ceremony. The 32-year-old all-rounder captured the PCA Men’s Player of the Year trophy, alongside the domestic overall MVP award, the County Championship player of the year honor, and a spot in the men’s team of the year (Sky Sports). Over the course of the season, Overton amassed 951 runs, claimed 76 wickets, and secured 45 catches across all three formats (Three).
His performance makes him the first Somerset player to secure the men’s player honor since Nick Compton took the title in 2012 (Sky Sports). Overton surpassed a notable shortlist that included Joe Clarke, George Hill, and Dan Lawrence (BBC). Beyond his county duties, his strong form sparked discussions regarding a potential recall to the England Test side four years after earning his eighth and most recent cap, filling a vacancy left by Ben Stokes (Yahoo).
“It’s a phenomenal feeling. To be chosen by your peers to win this award is very special; it means so much to me. To be able to put in consistent performances has made it a great year. My bowling ticked along and after I scored that hundred at Essex in the second game of the season my form with the bat carried on throughout the summer. The quarter-final against Yorkshire was where I felt like this year is the one where everything’s going my way and everything clicked.”
Craig Overton, Somerset all-rounder, via Sky Sports
Sophie Luff Leads From the Front and Makes History for Somerset
Sophie Luff completed a historic double for Somerset by claiming the women’s player of the year honor, becoming the first winner of the award not to have played international cricket since Eve Jones in 2021 (Sky Sports). The 32-year-old captain scored more than 1,000 runs across formats during the summer, averaged in excess of 40 in the One-Day Cup (BBC), and triumphed with the Trent Rockets in The Hundred (Yahoo).
Luff defeated an international-heavy shortlist that featured Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, and Mady Villiers (BBC). Her transition to opening the batting for Somerset unlocked a new level of performance, earning her selection in the women’s team of the year (Sky Sports).
“I’ve always been a leader that wants to lead from the front, but I think people are seeing that play out in games now. I think this year I’ve just showcased what I’m capable of.”
Sophie Luff, Somerset captain, via BBC
Emerging Young Talents Secure National Honors
The ceremony also celebrated the rising generation of English cricket talent through the young player accolades. Pace bowler Sonny Baker collected the men’s young player honor after a breakthrough year that included a Test match debut against New Zealand at the Kia Oval in June (Sky Sports). Baker, 21, took 10 international wickets—including six in IT20s—became the first Hampshire player to win the award since its introduction in 1990, and won The Hundred with the Manchester Super Giants (BBC).
Left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman received the women’s young player honor (Sky Sports). The 19-year-old earned IT20 and ODI debuts for England, impressed for Surrey and the Southern Brave in The Hundred, and earned a surprise inclusion in the England squad for the T20 World Cup (BBC).
Special Recognition for International Retainees and Officials
The Exhibition White City event additionally recognized long-standing contributions to the sport. Former England captain Heather Knight received the PCA Outstanding Contribution Award following her international retirement, honoring her prolonged dedication to the game (Sky Sports). Fellow international retiree and batter Tammy Beaumont was presented with the ECB Special Merit Award for her stellar international career (Yahoo). Umpiring honors went to Ian Blackwell in the men’s game and Gabi Brown in the women’s game (Sky Sports).