Willey tops ODI MVP as season kicks into gear

David Willey could be named the first PCA MVP of the summer as he topped the ODI Most Valuable Player Rankings following England’s 2-1 series victory over Ireland.

With three ODI and three T20I fixtures against Australia in September yet to be confirmed, Willey’s 92 MVP points from the Ireland series could see him succeed Joe Denly in being named England’s most effective performer in 50-over fixtures for the summer.

It completes a welcome return to the ODI setup for Willey, who averaged 31 MVP points-per-game (PPG) in the series, well clear of Sam Billings who averaged the second most PPG with 13.5.

The series highlight for Willey arguably came in the first fixture at the Ageas Bowl, when career best innings figures of 5-30 helped him to the PCA MVP of the Match award with 44 points.

The Yorkshire man backed that up with 28 more MVP points thanks to his 47* and two wickets in the second fixture, before claiming a half-century and a wicket in the final game of the series in the biosecure bubble in Southampton.

In that final game, captain Eoin Morgan shot up the Rankings from seventh to fourth thanks to a scintillating 106, whilst Tom Banton moved up to sixth thanks to his 58.

Billings (40 MVP points) is in second position as he joined Willey in enjoying an impressive return to the ODI stage, followed by Adil Rashid (39 points) in third whilst Jonny Bairstow (21.5 points) follows Morgan to complete the top five.

Focus now shifts back to the longest format ahead of England’s return to the Test arena against Pakistan in Manchester on Wednesday.

Whilst England’s team news will be announced at the toss at Emirates Old Trafford, it is expected that Overall and Test MVP leader Ben Stokes will feature either as an all-rounder or a specialist batsman.

Stokes has 110 MVP points to his name after his brilliant individual performances against West Indies saw him move to the top of the ICC’s all-rounder rankings at the expense of Windies skipper Jason Holder.

He sits 28 points clear of second placed Stuart Broad, who is also set for inclusion on Wednesday. The veteran seamer, who joined the ‘500 club’ during the third Test against the West Indies, could make it another game to remember as he needs five wickets to reach 800 in first-class matches.

Chris Woakes (46 MVP points), who took a brilliant five-fer on the final day of the last West Indies Test, Rory Burns (42 points) and Dom Sibley (38 points) complete the current Test MVP top five.

📊 Here’s how they stand after #ENGvWI

But only four MVP points separate fifth from ninth 👀

Full MVP roundup 👉 https://t.co/X8qYNQl4Hi#RaiseTheBat #RedForRuth pic.twitter.com/DvuHFemUa6

— PCA MVP Rankings (@pcaMVP) July 28, 2020

Middlesex man Nick Gubbins sits atop the county Overall MVP after a sensational inaugural round of Bob Willis Trophy fixtures saw two fixtures go right down to the wire.

Gubbins’ 192 and 60 in the London derby against Surrey helped him earn 52 MVP points for the fixture – enough to place him four clear of Leicestershire’s Colin Ackermann (48) in second.

Ackermann was the hero as his blistering 73 from 41 balls saw Leicestershire home against Lancashire in an incredible finish at New Road.

Just 10 MVP points separate Ackermann in second from Derbyshire Leus du Plooy’s in tenth, meaning there is everything to play for in this truncated 2020 season.

Sussex man Ollie Robinson will be fancying his MVP chances this year. On the back of a respectable 34th place finish in the Overall MVP last year, the fast bowler will be looking to break into the top 10 if he can produce more performances like his match-winning 8-65 against Hampshire at Hove.

Behind Robinson sits new Warwickshire man Tim Bresnan, who made a stunning impression with a fairytale century on his Bears debut, accruing 44.5 MVP points in the process, whilst Leicestershire’s Ben Slater (44 MVP points) completes the top five after a career best 172 in the Foxes’ memorable win over Lancashire.

First implemented in 2007, the MVP formula is entering its 14th season, and perhaps its most unique yet. The algorithm is used to identify the match-winners and key influencers in any given fixture by taking into account important contributions such as scoring a high proportion of your team’s runs, claiming top-order wickets and taking catches in the field.

When each individual player’s total points are aggregated at the end of the season, three domestic MVPs will be named for 2020: one for the Bob Willis Trophy, one for the Vitality Blast and a third cross-format Overall MVP, as well as one England MVP for each format plus an Overall MVP.

View the 2020 MVP Rankings here.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest MVP news by following the @pcaMVP on Twitter.