Potts and Armitage win Players of the Month for September

Durham and Northern Diamonds have taken the PCA Player of the Month awards for September with Matthew Potts and Hollie Armitage receiving the most supporter votes following being shortlisted due to the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings.

Potts beat strong competition from the other three players nominated in domestic men’s cricket for September in Essex’s Sam Cook, Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings and fellow Durham teammate Ben Raine. With the public ultimately deciding the winner, Potts received 38% with Jennings close behind on 28% and Cook in third on 26%.

The Durham man follows in the footsteps of Stevie Eskinazi, Sam Northeast, Harry Brook and double winner Shan Masood in lifting the Men’s Player of the Month trophies in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Northern Diamonds all-rounder impressed in September, lining up against Southern Vipers’ skipper Georgia Adams and fellow Diamonds teammates in Nat Sciver and Lauren Winfield-Hill on the shortlist. In an extremely close public vote, Armitage secured 37% with Winfield-Hill just behind on 35%.

Armitage is the fifth winner of the Women’s Player of the Month awards this year, following the successes of Alylish Cranstone, Kalea Moore, Sophie Luff and Alice Capsey.

Having impressed for England this summer, Potts continued his good form for Durham in September taking 22 wickets at an average of 13.3 from his three LV= Insurance County Championship games.

The 23-year-old quick picked up a Match MVP award on his way to collecting 112 MVP points in September, helping Durham to beat Leicestershire by seven wickets.

Potts produced one of the best bowling performances of the month in the first innings, taking 6-52 and backed up his performance with 7-49 giving him career best match figures of 13-101, earning him 60 points on the County Championship MVP Rankings.

Potts also showed his abilities with the bat in a blistering 40 off 36 balls against Nottinghamshire which included six fours and two sixes.

On winning the award Potts said: “I am very pleased with my form, it’s nice to finish what has been a productive season on a high.

“Looking back at the summer and what I have achieved is something pretty surreal. I have enjoyed every minute and I have been trying to take it in my stride.

“I think I have proven to myself that I’m capable of playing international cricket. However, being able to back it up year on year will be the challenge and I’m more than up for it.

“I’m delighted to win the PCA Player of the Month for September. It’s something you aim for as a player to prove to yourself and your peers how good you are.”

Armitage played a crucial part in Northern Diamonds winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Lord’s. Amassing 54 MVP points across the month, Armitage scored 169 runs at 84.5 alongside taking seven wickets at an average of 15.7 with the ball.

The 25-year-old picked up a Match MVP award for an eye-catching run-a-ball 131* against Western Storm, picking up figures of 2-27 and taking two catches to earn 36 MVP points.

Taking 2-46 in the final at Lord’s, Armitage played a pivotal part throughout the season leading the Diamonds’ to success.

On winning the public vote Armitage said: “It was a huge day at Lord’s, being able to lead a side out at the home of cricket is something that I’ll never forget and the icing on the cake was being able to lift the trophy with a group of girls I love playing with. It was a very special way to end the season.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to receive this award, with some fantastic cricketers alongside me also up for the award this month. It’s been an unforgettable month and season to be honest.

“I am happy with how I have played my cricket over this last month I have been really enjoying what I have been doing and I think that has brought the best out of my cricket. The enjoyment comes a lot from the Diamonds it’s a great group to be involved with.”

Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the men’s and women’s tables.