Mirror man Ben Stokes sealed a sensational summer by being voted PCA Players' Player of the year at a glittering awards night.
World Cup winner Stokes became the first player to win the award, voted for by his peers, solely for his England performances since Andrew Flintoff in 2005.
Man of the match in the World Cup final and man of the match in two of the five Ashes Tests, Stokes captured the imagination this summer with his feats with bat, ball and in the field.
And at the 50th Natwest PCA awards he beat off nominees from the county game Simon Harmer, Ryan Higgins and Dom Sibley.
“It’s hard to put it into words,” said Stokes. “I am over the moon that players think I am worthy of winning the NatWest PCA Players’ Player of the Year through performances this summer.
“You can take a lot of personal pride when you receive this award because it’s your peers that vote for you.
“Earning this award is a huge moment and something I am very gracious of and I am sure the previous 49 winners are gracious of too.
“While this is an individual award, it is within a team sport so I am only in this position because of what other guys in our squad have achieved as well.
“What we have done as a team in 2019 is phenomenal, to win the World Cup and draw the Ashes has been a fantastic summer and something I am proud of personally and as a team.”
Somerset batsman Tom Banton picked up the Young Player of the year award to go with his Cricket Writers' Club young player award the previous day, while Sophie Ecclestone won the Women's Player of the Summer trophy.
