Thursday 2 October 2014 17:47, UK
Yorkshire dominated the Professional Cricketers’ Association Awards with openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees scooping two of the top honours at Old Billingsgate on Wednesday night.
Left-handed opening batsman Lyth was crowned 2014 PCA Player of the Year after playing a key role in helping Yorkshire to their first LV= County Championship for 13 years, contributing 1,489 runs at an average of almost 70.
The 27-year-old was also the highest first-class run scorer in the country last season and finished with almost 1,900 runs in all forms of cricket.
Lyth’s Yorkshire team-mate and opening partner Lees finished just short of 1,000 LV= County Championship runs at an average of more than 44 in his first full season with the county.
It's definitely up there, to be voted for an award by my peers, it's fantastic. I'm only 21 so there hasn't been that much that's gone on so far. But this crowns a perfect year really.
The 21-year-old from Halifax scooped the PCA Young Player of the Year award and will join county team-mate Lyth in Sri Lanka this winter for a training camp as part of the England Performance Programme.
"It's definitely up there, to be voted for an award by my peers, it's fantastic," Lees said. "I'm only 21 so there hasn't been that much that's gone on so far. But this crowns a perfect year really."
Lees also believes the youth and potential at Yorkshire could help the county dominate domestic cricket for years to come.
"At the start of the season you set your aim to win the County Championship and the players we had we were confident," he said. "So to come through and win with a game to go was obviously fantastic.
"I was happy with my form throughout the year in all formats, and just happy to contribute to a winning side.
"In 2013 we came second and we used that to push on this year and go one step further. Hopefully we can be successful over the next few years. We've got the squad to do that certainly.
"When we're on the pitch we're competitive and we play some hard cricket, and you may not think the opposition like you. But there's that mutual respect that every team has, and it's great just to be on the shortlist, it's a huge honour.
"It gives you a bit of confidence that there's one or two that don't mind you and thought to vote for you."
Angus Porter, PCA Chief Executive, said: “Many congratulations to Adam and Alex on being voted by their fellow professionals as 2014’s Player and Young Player of the Year. The list of past winners bears testament to the fact that the people best placed to judge outstanding performances are fellow professionals.”
The full list of award winners on the night were:
Reg Hayter Cup for the PCA Player of the Year
Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
John Arlott Cup for the PCA Young Player of the Year
Alex Lees (Yorkshire)
ECB Special Award
David Collier
PCA Special Merit Award, sponsored by Lycamobile
Micky Stewart
NatWest t20 Blast Player of the Year
Darren Stevens (Kent)
Royal London One-Day Cup Player of the Year
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Sky Sports Sixes Award
Luke Wright (Sussex)
England FTI MVP of the Summer
James Anderson
FTI Team of the Year
Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
Daryl Mitchell (Worcestershire) - Captain
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire and England)
Joe Root (Yorkshire and England)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire and England)
Tom Smith (Lancashire)
Darren Stevens (Kent)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire and England)
Jack Brooks (Yorkshire)
Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire and England)
Waitrose Women’s Player of the Summer
Charlotte Edwards
Investec Test Player of the Summer
James Anderson
