Media call for NatWest PCA Awards - 29/09/2009

What?            Photo and interview opportunities with past and present professional cricketers, including international stars.

When?           6.15pm - 7pm, Thursday 8^th October 2009

Where?         Old Billingsgate, Lower Thames Street, London EC3R

For further information and accreditation please contact:

James Hindson 07866 241 241   jhindson@thepca.co.uk

Notes:

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), in association with NatWest and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has revealed the nominees for the NatWest PCA Awards which will take place in front of 1,000 guests at Old Billingsgate, London on 8^th October 2009. 

The Awards are unanimously supported by the players, with the main awards voted on by the players themselves.  The major award categories are the NatWest PCA Player of the Year and NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year.  Nominees are:

NatWest PCA Player of the Year

• Ian Blackwell - Durham
• Graham Onions - Durham & England
• Andrew Strauss - Middlesex & England
• Marcus Trescothick - Somerset

NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year

• Stuart Broad - Nottinghamshire & England
• Craig Kieswetter - Somerset
• Adil Rashid - Yorkshire & England
• James Taylor - Leicestershire

Over the years, the staging of the NatWest PCA Awards has raised significant funds for the PCA Benevolent Fund. The Fund is part of the PCA's commitment to helping current and former players and their dependants in times of hardship, upheaval or to readjust to the world beyond the game.

The host of the proceedings is Alexander Armstrong and the awards to be presented are:

• ECB Special Award 2009   
• Most Valuable Player Awards 2009
• Impossible is Nothing Award 2009 sponsored by adidas
• Hewitt Team of the Year 2009
• Sky Sport Sixes League 2009
• PCA Special Merit Award 2009 sponsored by Brit Insurance
• John Arlott Cup for the NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year 2009
• Reg Hayter Cup for the NatWest PCA Player of the Year 2009

Previous winners of the Reg Hayter Cup for the NatWest PCA Player of the Year Award include:

• Martin van Jaarsveld, 2008
• Ottis Gibson, 2007
• Mark Ramprakash, 2006
• Andrew Flintoff, 2005 & 2004
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 2003
• Michael Vaughan, 2002

Winners of the John Arlott Cup for the NatWest PCA Young Player Award have included:

• Ravi Bopara, 2008
• Adil Rashid, 2007
• Alastair Cook, 2006 & 2005
• Ian Bell, 2004
• Kabir Ali, 2003 & 2002

Winner's announcement:

The details of winners for each award will be announced to the media under strict embargo at 6pm on the evening of the awards. 

Photography:

The official photographer is Getty Images who can provide images of the players arriving and winners collecting their awards.