PCA Awards 2026: The Somerset Duo Who Stole the Show

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-01

Every year, the PCA Awards dinner brings together the best cricketers in England and Wales for a night of celebration. But this year, the spotlight landed squarely on Somerset. Craig Overton and Sophie Luff walked away with the biggest prizes of the evening, and honestly, it's hard to argue with the voters. ### A Somerset Sweep at the Top Overton took home the Men's Player of the Year award after a season that most players can only dream about. He racked up 734 runs in the County Championship, including three centuries, and also claimed 53 wickets. That's the kind of all-round performance that makes selectors sit up and take notice. But it wasn't just about the numbers. Overton produced moments of magic when it mattered most. His unbeaten 79 off just 30 balls against Yorkshire at Headingley powered Somerset to Blast Finals Day. He then helped Trent Rockets reach the Hundred final. "It's a phenomenal feeling," Overton said after receiving the award. It's worth noting he hasn't played international cricket since 2022, which makes this recognition from his peers even more meaningful. Luff, Somerset's captain, made a bold move this season by promoting herself to open the batting. It paid off in a big way. She finished as the club's top run-scorer in both the T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. She also played every game for Trent Rockets as they won the women's Hundred for the first time. Luff is the first uncapped player to win the women's award since Eve Jones in 2021. "I unlocked something by taking on the new role at the top of the order," she said. ### Young Guns Shine Bright Sonny Baker, another Somerset academy product, won the Men's Young Player of the Year award. He made his Test debut for England at The Oval and played in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka. In the Blast, he took 21 wickets for Hampshire, including five-wicket hauls in both the quarter-final and the final. He then won the Hundred with Manchester Super Giants. Baker said he had dreamed of a Test debut since he started playing cricket at the age of 11. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, a 19-year-old left-arm spinner from Surrey, took the Women's Young Player of the Year award. She made her England debuts in ODI and T20I cricket this summer and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Hundred. She has her sights set on playing a Test at Headingley in next summer's Ashes series. "I hope to join the red-ball camp ahead of 2027," she said. ### Special Recognition for Legends Heather Knight, who retired from international cricket this summer, received the PCA Outstanding Contribution award. She previously served as the association's vice-chair. Her former England teammate Tammy Beaumont received the ECB Special Merit award. Toyota sponsored the awards, and PCA chief executive Daryl Mitchell called the event the most prestigious awards ceremony in cricket. ### Full List of PCA Awards 2026 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) This year's PCA Awards reminded everyone why county cricket matters. It's where players grind, grow, and sometimes become legends. And for Somerset, it was a night to remember. For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!