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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Harry Brook hails "genius" Alastair Cook after following in his footsteps with award win

Harry Brook has been named PCA Men's Young Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season, becoming the first to do so since Sir Alastair Cook in 2005 and 2006.

Brook, who made his England Test and T20I debuts this year, won the award after a stunning season which saw him score 967 runs at an average of 107.4 in the County Championship and 436 at 39.36 in the T20 Blast.

And after receiving the award, Brook hailed Cook as a "genius" having now followed in his footsteps. "A lot of people have a good year but to be able to back it up and be consistent for a couple of seasons is really nice," Brook said.

"It's great to follow in Alastair Cook's footsteps, he was a genius and I just hope I can continue scoring runs. It's such a good feeling to get this recognition because it's from your own teammates and opposition, which is a big achievement, so I'm honoured to have won it twice."

The 23-year-old beat Matthew Potts and Will Jacks to win the award and is now hoping to help England win the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. "Being involved in a World Cup is what dreams are made of," Brook added.

"It's special being able to represent England at a World Cup and hopefully I can get a few games and make some match winning contributions."

Jonny Bairstow and Nat Sciver were named the PCA Men's and Women's Player of the Year respectively, having already claimed equivalent awards from the Cricket Writers' Club. "It's a privilege to win the cinch PCA Men's Player of the Year and when your colleagues vote for you it's a real honour," Bairstow said.

Jonny Bairstow won the PCA Men's Player of the Year award (Christopher Lee/Getty Images for PCA)

"Winning six out of seven Tests was a huge achievement for everyone. After the last couple of years that we've had it's great to be back on the winning side of it.

"I was really pleased with how results turned out and how the group has grown and bonded together over the summer, it's been a pleasure to be part of and hopefully I’ll be back with the squad soon."

Sciver, who won Women's Player of the Year for the second time in her career, said: "A massive thank you to everybody that voted for me to win the cinch PCA Women's Player of the Year, I am really honoured.

Nat Sciver has been named PCA Women's Player of the Year (Stu Forster - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

"As cricketers we are perfectionists and often remember the negative things that have happened so it’s hard to remember all the good things but there have been some great memories and highlights."

17-year-old all-rounder Freya Kemp, who made her ODI and T20I debuts for England this year, won the Women's Young Player of the Year after being named CWC Emerging Cricketer of the Year earlier this week.

"It's an absolute honour to win this award. It is special to be picked by other players – it really means a lot and is something I will remember for a very long time. It's been such an amazing summer, I've enjoyed every minute of it and have learned so much."

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