Marcus Trescothick wins monthly FTI MVP award for August – 06/09/10

Marcus Trescothick wins monthly FTI MVP award for August – 06/09/10 Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick has won the monthly FTI MVP award for August thanks to impressive performances across all three competitions. The 34-year-old opening batsman, who last season finished top of the FTI MVP rankings, has won the award having accumulated 158.70 points throughout the month. Trescothick’s highest score during August came in the LV= County Championship when an unbeaten 228 in the second innings, 62% of Somerset’s total, helped his side defeat Essex by 219 runs. Two further centuries against Kent (188) and Durham (128) ensured Somerset remained unbeaten in the LV= CC throughout August with Trescothick accruing 106.17 points in the four day format. Trescothick has been a dominant force for Somerset throughout a season which has seen the county challenge for honours in all three competitions. Somerset finished runners up in the Friends Provident t20, with Trescothick scoring a blistering 60 from just 28 balls to help Somerset overcome Notts Outlaws in the semi finals stages earning him 17.30 points. His side has qualified for the semi final stages in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and are currently lying second in the LV=CC. Jim Vint, Managing Director at FTI Consulting Inc, commented: "Marcus has been ever present on the FTI MVP leaderboard this season as he attempts to defend his title and he is certainly hitting form at just the right time. The final few weeks of the season are going to be fascinating as the race to the FTI MVP title looks to be going down to the wire." Speaking on his achievement Marcus Trescothick said: "It’s been a fantastic month for me and great to be back amongst the front runners as the FTI MVP builds to a climax. There’s still lots of cricket to play and I’m really keen to defend my FTI MVP title." Trescothick narrowly beat Durham’s Ian Blackwell to the August award. Blackwell finished the month with 151 points with Worcestershire and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan claiming third place with 148 points. A monthly FTI MVP award is announced throughout the summer for the leading points scorer across the LV= County Championship, Friends Provident t20 and Clydesdale Bank 40 for that month. Previous winners include Neil Carter (April & July), Ryan ten Doeschate (May) and Chaminda Vaas (June). FTI MVP awards are also presented to the leading domestic player at the end of each county season and the leading England player at the end of the domestic international season and again following the winter tour period. Originally conceived by the PCA, the FTI MVP Rankings (powered by PA Sport) are a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held – and how well they do it. For more information on the current standings for the FTI MVP Rankings check www.ecb.co.uk/stats