Michael Pepper has been named in the MVP Men’s Team of the Month for June following his outstanding performances with the bat.
Using the MVP’s unique algorithm, powered by Argentex, the men and women’s sides have been picked by choosing the game’s top performers across domestic cricket in June.
In the men’s game, the month was dominated by the Vitality Blast, alongside a round and a day being completed in the Vitality County Championship. Essex wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper captains the side having scored a brilliant 170.15 MVP points during in June, largely thanks to his 326 T20 runs, including a century against Middlesex. The 26-year-old finished the month as the highest scoring batter with 133.15 batting points.
Surrey’s Sean Abbott and Gloucestershire’s David Payne take two of the fast bowling spots having amassed 87.19 and 80.12 MVP bowling points respectively. Warwickshire teammates Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell also impressed, earning a place in the side for the first time.
In the women’s game, the first silverware of the season was handed out as The Blaze won the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Kathryn Bryce picked up the competition MVP. The Scottish batter also captains this month’s side having secured a phenomenal 166.70 MVP points during June and finished as the leading batter with 134.81 batting points.
A brace of players maintain their positions in the side with Bryce and Southern Vipers Charli Knott impressing in consecutive months. Sarah Bryce also produced consistent performances in June picking up 40 fielding points thanks to her 11 stumpings and four catches, whilst Heather Graham picked up the most bowling MVP points with 71.20.
The PCA’s MVP system works by comparing a player’s accomplishments against the expected performance for that game. Runs and wickets achieved at each ground are also considered and compared to the average. Enabling players to score or lose MVP points on every ball through CricViz’s extensive historical database, the rankings are a true reflection of performance.
The teams have been selected using a traditional, balanced side. This means that a player such as Surrey’s Dan Lawrence is unfortunate to miss out, despite finishing sixth in the rankings for the month, he was ultimately outscored by other all-rounders like Bethell. Likewise, Sophia Dunkley finished sixth in the batting rankings but didn’t quite do enough to make the side.
Men’s MVP Team of the Month:
1. Rishi Patel – 125.12
2. Luke Wells – 137.13
3. Aneurin Donald – 119.06
4. James Vince – 128.92
5. Jamie Smith – 141.82
6. Jacob Bethell – 152.71
7. Michael Pepper – 170.15 (C, WK)
8. Dan Mousley – 156.52
9. David Payne – 96.61
10. Sean Abbott – 103.98
11. Richard Gleeson – 82.79
Women’s MVP Team of the Month:
1. Grace Scrivens – 114.66
2. Hollie Armitage – 138.81
3. Heather Knight – 90.44
4. Kathryn Bryce – 166.70 (C)
5. Sarah Bryce – 119.45 (WK)
6. Georgia Adams – 114.15
7. Charli Knott – 94.47
8. Charlie Dean – 90.00
9. Heather Graham – 90.56
10. Linsey Smith – 79.60
11. Tilly Corteen-Coleman – 76.52
