Atkinson & Ecclestone win Cricket Writers' Club awards

2 weeks ago 3

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Gus Atkinson won the Bob Willis Trophy as he was recognised as the England player of the year at the 2024 Cricket Writers' Club awards.

The Surrey fast bowler made his Test debut in July and emerged as the player of the series with 22 wickets in three matches against West Indies.

Sophie Ecclestone, the world number one bowler across both white-ball formats, picked up the Women's Cricket Award.

Shoaib Bashir, 21, took the Young Player of the Year award which dates back to 1950.

James Anderson and the cast of BBC Sounds podcast Tailenders won the Peter Smith Award, rewarding outstanding contribution to the presentation of cricket to the public.

Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson received the County Championship Player of the Year award and 20-year-old Surrey and Oval Invincibles all-rounder Ryana MacDonald-Gay took the Emerging Cricketer of the Year honour.

Atkinson won the Bob Willis Trophy, given to the England men's or women's player of the year, after an impressive start to his Test career.

The 26-year-old picked up 12 wickets in his debut Test at Lord's as England beat West Indies by an innings and 114 runs, before adding match figures of 6-95 in Anderson's farewell Test.

Atkinson returned to Lord's in August to score his maiden century against Sri Lanka and become the first England number eight to make a Test ton in 11 years.

"I was just hoping to make my England Test debut, and to have the summer that I've had, it's a huge honour and to get this award at the end of it tops it off," Atkinson said.

"My debut, taking 12 wickets was very special, and playing in Jimmy's last Test was a big honour. Probably my favourite moment was that century against Sri Lanka."

Women's Cricket Award winner Ecclestone, 25, became the fastest woman to take 100 ODI wickets earlier this year.

Reaching the mark in 63 innings, the left-arm spinner bettered the record of Australia's Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who took one innings more to achieve the feat.

Off-spinner Bashir joined a starry list including Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Ian Botham and Nasser Hussain by winning the Young Player of the Year award.

At 20 years and 282 days, he became the youngest England bowler to take a five-wicket innings haul in a home Test with 5-41 against West Indies at Trent Bridge.

"It's been really special. With a lot of hard work, I'm thankful to be playing for my country. Long may it continue," Bashir said.

Bob Willis Trophy for England player of the year

Gus Atkinson

Women's Cricket Award

Sophie Ecclestone

Men's Young Cricketer of the Year

Shoaib Bashir

County Championship Player of the Year

Liam Dawson

Emerging Cricketer of the Year

Ryana MacDonald-Gay

Disability Cricketer of the Year