Somerset pair Overton and Luff win PCA awards

Somerset pair Craig Overton and Sophie Luff have earned the headline PCA awards at the 2026 ceremony, partnered with Toyota, while rising English talents Sonny Baker and Tilly Corteen‑Coleman also secured distinguished honours during the Exhibition White City event.

Overton captured a remarkable four‑way haul, taking home the PCA Men’s Player of the Year, the Men’s Domestic Overall MVP, the Rothesay County Championship Player of the Year, and an invitation to the IG PCA Men’s Team of the Year.

At 32, he has amassed 951 runs, 76 wickets and 45 catches across all three formats this season, making him the first Somerset player to claim the award since Nick Compton in 2012, outranking contenders such as Joe Clarke, George Hill and Dan Lawrence.

Somerset capped off the campaign with Luff also securing the player‑selected award and becoming the first Toyota PCA Women’s Player of the Year winner since Eve Jones in 2021, despite never playing international cricket.

Impressing for her county all season and reaching The Hundred title with Trinity Rockets, Luff was also named to the Metro Bank PCA Women’s Team of the Year.

He also recorded a crucial unbeaten 79 in the Vitality Blast quarter‑finals to propel Somerset to Finals Day.

“It’s a phenomenal feeling. To be chosen by your peers to win this award is very special; it means so much to me,” said Overton.

“To be able to deliver consistent performances, this year has been extraordinary. My bowling remained solid, and after scoring a hundred at Essex in early September, my batting form continued through the summer. The half‑final against Yorkshire marked the point where I genuinely believe this season is the breakthrough, and everything feels aligned.”

“I felt like I got into a rhythm where my body was in the right shape—though the schedule meant it wasn’t perfect—but mentally I was in a strong position to step up whenever matches appeared nearby.”

‘I perceived myself slipping into a groove, even though my physical condition wasn’t fully optimal due to the busy fixture list, yet mentally I sensed the environment was primed for peak performance between the occasional days away.’

Somerset closed the cycle by completing the domestic trinity, with captain Luff earning the player‑vote and becoming the inaugural Toyota PCA Women’s Player of the Year since Eve Jones in 2021, accomplishing the feat without ever playing county cricket.

In addition, team captain Luff was also honoured as Toyota PCA Women’s Player of the Year alongside Sonny Baker, whose highlight came in the Vitality Blast men’s semi‑final against Northamptonshire.

The Toyota PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year award was awarded to Sonny Baker, sentencing him to a Test match debut versus New Zealand at the Kia Oval.

The 21‑year‑old took ten international wickets, demonstrating remarkable skill with six in the International T20s and becoming the first Hampshire cricketer to receive this honour since its inception in 1990.

A left‑arm spinner, Tilly Corteen‑Coleman, excelled across the board, earning her first IT20 and ODI caps for England, performing strongly for Surrey and Southern Braves in The Hundred, and claiming the Toyota PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year distinction.

Former England captain Heather Knight was recognised with the PCA Outstanding Contribution Award for her sustained commitment to the sport.

The ECB also presented the Special Merit Award to former England batter Tammy Beaumont for her outstanding series of international campaigns.

• Toyota PCA Men’s Player of the Year – Craig Overton
• Toyota PCA Women’s Player of the Year – Sophie Luff
• Toyota PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year – Sonny Baker
• Toyota PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year – Tilly Corteen‑Coleman
• PCA Outstanding Contribution Award – Heather Knight
• ECB Special Merit – Tammy Beaumont
• PCA Umpire of the Year – Men’s Game – Ian Blackwell
• PCA Umpire of the Year – Women’s Game – Gabi Brown