Essex’s Simon Harmer and Kent’s Darren Stevens have become the first ever players to share the PCA’s Player of the Month award, after a public vote to decide the winner extraordinarily resulted in a tie.
The duo were the clear frontrunners, both finishing with 43% – or 1,013 individual votes – to their names. Kyle Abbott, who produced historic match figures of 17-86 earlier this month, finished third with 10%, and Worcestershire’s T20 hero Moeen Ali came fourth with 4%.
The four-man shortlist had previously been selected via the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, with the nominees scoring more MVP points than anyone else in September.
Fans who voted via the PCA and Sky Sports websites then had the final say, but there was nothing to choose between two of domestic cricket’s outstanding performers, a fitting end to a dramatic summer.
Harmer wins his second Player of the Month award of the 2019 season having picked up his first in May, whilst Stevens joins Liam Dawson (April), Hassan Azad (June), Ravi Ashwin (July) and Tom Banton (August) in receiving the accolade this year.
Off-spinner Harmer has enjoyed an outstanding summer, and saved much of his best form for the last weeks of the season. His combined Blast Finals Day figures of 7-35 were the best ever recorded on the day, and he went on to smash 18 off just seven balls to win the final.
In the Championship, Harmer claimed three five-wicket hauls and hit an unbeaten 50 during Essex’s successful Division One title race run-in.
“It’s been a great month.
“I can’t pick out a particular highlight. Obviously Blast Finals Day was an extremely exciting occasion and everything fell into place for us at Edgbaston – it was great to win.
“Down at Somerset I think we got ourselves into a little bit of trouble trying to play out a draw on that pitch. In the end, it was the relief of finally lifting the trophy at the culmination of such a great season that made it a real highlight.”
On top of team honours, Harmer has received the notable personal accolade of being named the PCA’s Overall Most Valuable Player for 2019, after accumulating a massive 609 MVP points throughout the season.
“I think the MVP is a true reflection of your performances throughout the year, so it was extremely satisfying to be named the Overall MVP. Getting a £10,000 bonus never hurts, either.”
Already a Specsavers County Championship and Vitality Blast champion, 2019 Overall MVP and double Player of the Month award winner, Harmer has the opportunity to put the cherry on the cake by picking up the NatWest PCA Players’ Player of the Year award at the 50th NatWest PCA Awards on Wednesday.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to go to the Awards because I’ve always gone back to South Africa to play. I’ve heard good things so it should be a really great night.
“I’m just incredibly honoured to be voted as one of the four best players in the country by my fellow professionals.”
