First ever PCA Women’s Team of the Year announced

The first ever PCA Women’s Team of the Year has been decided by the PCA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings to give an ultimate XI from the 2021 domestic season.

Following the introduction of 41 new female professionals into the PCA last year, as well as the establishment of two new competitions in The Hundred and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, 11 of the best players in women’s domestic cricket have been recognised for their efforts this year.

The team is led by cinch PCA Women’s Player of the Year and Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of the Year Eve Jones, and she is joined by cinch PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year Alice Capsey in the side.

Emma Lamb and Emily Arlott, who both received their first England call-ups this year, are also included alongside established international name Kate Cross, who has been recognised for her domestic form in 2021.

A wide cross-section of players sees seven of the eight regional centres represented in the PCA Women’s Team of the Year.

The team, each of whom will receive a personalised winner’s medal, was selected via the PCA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings, with a new statistical algorithm producing the Overall MVP table in 2021.

Eve Jones (captain) [Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix]

Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers, Oval Invincibles)

Emma Lamb (Thunder, Manchester Originals)

Alice Capsey (South East Stars, Oval Invincibles)

Sophie Luff (Western Storm, Welsh Fire)

Bryony Smith (South East Stars, Welsh Fire)

Abbey Freeborn (wicketkeeper) [Lightning, Trent Rockets]

Kate Cross (Thunder, Manchester Originals)

Emily Arlott (Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix)

Linsey Smith (Northern Diamonds, Northern Superchargers)

Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers, Southern Brave)

The Overall MVP takes into account performances in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the Charlotte Edwards Cup and The Hundred to produce the players who had the biggest impact throughout the season in all competitions.

Over £40,000 has been shared in prize money for the top performers in the MVP across 2021, with competition prize money equal across men’s and women’s domestic cricket, and the player who finished top of each table also received a winner’s medal for their efforts.

A new MVP formula was produced at the start of this season by the PCA alongside CricViz and the players for both red-ball and limited-overs cricket, with individuals who have excelled across all formats recognised in the IG PCA Men’s Team of the Year.

The IG PCA Men’s Team of the Year and first ever PCA Women’s Team of the Year make up the final two prizes of the 2021 cinch PCA Awards, which have been announced throughout the last weeks of the season, culminating with the four player-voted awards which were broadcast live on Sky Sports during day one of the Bob Willis Trophy final on Tuesday.

Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the women’s domestic table.