Sunderland Echo

Stokes is nominated for player of year

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Ben Stokes has been shortliste­d for the players' player of the year award after starring for England in the World Cup and Ashes this summer.

Stokes has been nominated alongside Gloucester­shire all-rounder Ryan Higgins, Essex spinner Simon Harmer and Warwickshi­re opener Dominic Sibley.

Stokes won the young player award in 2013 and if he scoops the Reg Hayter Cup at London's Roundhouse next Wednesday, he will become only the sixth player to collect the PCA's top two male honours.

Having started the World Cup with a phenomenal catch, Stokes' unbeaten 84 against New Zealand in the final was central to England winning a global 50-over competitio­n for the first time in their history.

The all-rounder followed that up with a tour de force 135 not out against Australia at Headingley last month, an unforgetta­ble innings in a series where he made 441 runs at an average of 55.12.

*Gloucester­shire and Northampto­nshire both clinched promotion to Division One of the County Championsh­ip without even taking to the field on the final day at Bristol.

Their elevation was confirmed when Durham’s match with fourth-placed Glamorgan at Chester-le-Street was washed out, denying the Welsh county the victory they needed to give them any hope of going up.

Essex were crowned county champions, while Somerset missed out, as their title decider concluded in a dramatic draw at Taunton. Somerset forfeited their second innings, leaving 63 to win for Essex, who managed to see out the last hour.

 ??  ?? Ben Stokes.
Ben Stokes.

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