The 2023 cinch PCA Awards shortlists have been confirmed, with Alex Lees shortlisted for Men’s Player of the Year.
Durham’s opening batter is the leading run-scorer in the LV= Insurance County Championship across both divisions with 1,341 runs at a phenomenal average of 74.5 and impressive strike-rate of 73.9, including five hundreds.
The left-hander also impressed in the Metro Bank One Day Cup scoring 403 runs from just seven innings with an average of 57.6.
The 30-year-old will be hoping to pick up his second accolade at the PCA Awards, having won PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year in 2014.
All players have been voted for by their peers, with four headline awards to be announced at the Troxy on Monday 2 October, following the conclusion of the English summer.
The combination of the best performers across international and domestic cricket have already had eight major cinch PCA Awards wins etched into history, including multiple winners Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Harry Brook.
With current professionals voting in September, England’s Brook is joined by the current leader of the Domestic Men’s MVP Liam Dawson, Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins and LV= Insurance County Championship leading run-scorer Alex Lees on the cinch PCA Men’s Player of the Year shortlist.
The cinch PCA Women’s Player of the Year shortlist will see the Domestic Women’s MVP Georgia Adams take on England duo Tammy Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt with South East Stars captain Bryony Smith completing the talented quartet.
The most prestigious awards ceremony in English cricket also recognises the most talented emerging players in England and Wales, with those under the age of 24 on 1 April eligible.
Gloucestershire’s Ollie Price is joined by Somerset’s James Rew and Surrey and England’s Jamie Smith as contenders to win the cinch PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year and follow in the footsteps of Brook who was successful two years in a row.
The cinch PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year will certainly go to a young England star. The number one spinner in the world, Ecclestone, faces competition from her Thunder teammate Mahika Gaur and Northern Diamonds Bess Heath.
Shortlisted players received the news of their honour via team huddles at recent fixtures and were handed a golden ticket as a VIP invite to the event.
The shortlisted candidates will find out at the ceremony whether they have won the award in their category, amongst 10 accolades presented on the evening.