Somerset teammates Craig Overton and Sophie Luff secured the headline Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year honors at the 2026 PCA Awards in London on September 30. The double victory marks a historic night for the West Country club at the conclusion of the English domestic season.
Overton’s selection as the Toyota PCA Men’s Player of the Year makes him the first Somerset player to claim the trophy since Nick Compton in 2012. The 32-year-old completed a quadruple of honors at the ceremony, having also secured the PCA Men’s Domestic Overall MVP, the Rothesay County Championship Player of the Year title, and the captaincy of the PCA Men’s Team of the Year.
Analysis of his season suggests that his return of 951 runs and 76 wickets across all formats may intensify calls for an England red-ball recall. “It’s a phenomenal feeling. To be chosen by your peers to win this award is very special; it means so much to me,” Overton said. He added that despite the congested schedule, “Mentally I felt like I was in a great spot to be able to go out and perform when games come along near enough every other day.”
Sophie Luff was named the Toyota PCA Women’s Player of the Year, becoming the first player since Eve Jones in 2021 to win the award without featuring in international cricket during the same year. Analysis indicates Luff’s win highlights the increasing visibility and stature of domestic women’s competitions such as the One-Day Cup and The Hundred. “It’s super special people have voted for me after the performances and impact they feel I’ve had this year,” Luff said.
The youth categories saw Hampshire’s Sonny Baker named the Men’s Young Player of the Year, the first player from his county to receive the honor since the award was established in 1990. Tilly Corteen-Coleman won the Women’s Young Player of the Year following a breakthrough summer that included her England IT20 and ODI debuts.
The ceremony also honored long-standing contributions to the game. Heather Knight received the PCA Outstanding Contribution Award following her retirement from international cricket earlier in the summer, while Tammy Beaumont was presented with the ECB Special Merit award. In the officiating categories, the professional playing body voted Ian Blackwell and Gabi Brown as the Men’s and Women’s PCA Umpires of the Year respectively.
