PCA Awards 2026: The Somerset Duo Who Stole the Show

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-01

### Two Somerset Stars Dominate PCA Awards Craig Overton and Sophie Luff did something special at the PCA Awards in West London on Wednesday. They both took home the top prizes — Men's and Women's Player of the Year. And they're both from Somerset. How often do you see that? Players voted for the winners, so these awards carry real weight. It's not a media vote or a fan poll. It's your peers saying you were the best. That means something. Overton had a season most players can only dream about. He scored 734 runs in the County Championship, including three hundreds. And he took 53 wickets. Let that sink in. A genuine all-rounder doing it with both bat and ball. But that's not all. He smashed an unbeaten 79 off just 30 balls against Yorkshire at Headingley in the Blast quarter-final. That knock sent Somerset to Finals Day. Then he helped Trent Rockets reach the Hundred final. "It's a phenomenal feeling," he said. You can bet it is. Here's the thing — Overton hasn't played international cricket since 2022. Yet he keeps delivering at the domestic level. That kind of resilience says a lot about his character. ### Sophie Luff: The Captain Who Reinvented Herself Sophie Luff's story is a bit different, but just as impressive. She's Somerset's captain, and this year she moved up to open the batting. That's never easy. Opening is a completely different challenge. But she made it look simple. Luff finished as Somerset's top run-scorer in both the T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. She played every game for Trent Rockets as they won the women's Hundred for the first time. And here's a cool stat: she's the first uncapped player to win the women's award since Eve Jones in 2021. She said moving to the top of the order "unlocked something." Sounds about right. ### Young Guns Shine Bright Sonny Baker and Tilly Corteen-Coleman took the Young Player awards. Baker, another Somerset academy product, made his Test debut for England at The Oval. He also played in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka. In the Blast, he took 21 wickets for Hampshire, with five-wicket hauls in both the quarter-final and the final. Then he won the Hundred with Manchester Super Giants. Not bad for a young lad. Baker said he'd dreamed of a Test debut since he was 11. That's the kind of stuff that gives you goosebumps. Corteen-Coleman is a 19-year-old left-arm spinner from Surrey. She made her England debuts in ODI and T20I cricket this summer. She finished as joint-highest wicket-taker in the Hundred. And she's got her eyes set on a Test at Headingley in next summer's Ashes. She wants that full set of caps. ### Special Recognition for Legends Heather Knight received the PCA Outstanding Contribution award. She retired from international cricket this summer and previously served as the association's vice-chair. Her former England teammate Tammy Beaumont got the ECB Special Merit award. Toyota sponsored the awards. PCA chief executive Daryl Mitchell called it "the most prestigious awards ceremony in cricket." He said it lets the game finish the year by recognizing its players. Hard to argue with that. ### Full List of Winners - **Men's Player of the Year:** Craig Overton (shortlisted: Joe Clarke, George Hill, Dan Lawrence) - **Women's Player of the Year:** Sophie Luff (shortlisted: Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Mady Villiers) - **Men's Young Player of the Year:** Sonny Baker (shortlisted: Charlie Allison, Naavya Sharma) - **Women's Young Player of the Year:** Tilly Corteen-Coleman (shortlisted: Jodi Grewcock, Charley Phillips) - **Outstanding Contribution:** Heather Knight - **ECB Special Merit:** Tammy Beaumont - **Umpire of the Year:** Ian Blackwell (men's) and Gabi Brown (women's) ### What This Means for Cricket Nights like this remind you why county cricket matters. It's where players grind, improve, and prove themselves. Overton and Luff might not be the biggest names in international cricket right now, but they're giants in the domestic game. And that's worth celebrating. The PCA Awards aren't just about trophies. They're about recognizing the graft, the late innings, the tough spells, and the quiet leadership. Luff opening the batting. Overton bowling those long spells. Baker chasing that Test dream. Corteen-Coleman eyeing the Ashes. These are the stories that make cricket special. And if you're a fan, you'll want to keep an eye on these players. They're not done yet. For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!