Chris Woakes Wins April’s FTI MVP Award – 05/05/11 Warwickshire and England all-rounder Chris Woakes has won the monthly FTI MVP award for April, following an impressive start to the domestic season which has seen him take 18 wickets and score 291 runs in three LV= County Championship matches and one Clydesdale Bank 40 match. The 22-year-old began the season in superb form, scoring a run a ball 129 against Somerset in the opening round of LV= County Championship matches and claiming 6-85 and 3-16 with the ball. Woakes followed this with a score of 47 in the first innings against Worcestershire, a contribution of over 23% to Warwickshire’s first innings total of 201, and then collected a second six wicket haul of the season, taking 6-49 in the second innings. The all-rounder again demonstrated his ability with the bat when he scored 70 from 123 balls against Durham in the final round of LV= County Championship matches in April. Woakes, who made his Twenty20 and ODI debuts for England against Australia in January, led the April FTI MVP table by 24 points from Leicestershire’s Claude Henderson who had a total points tally of 111, with Durham’s Ian Blackwell in third place. Chris Woakes said: "It’s been a great start to the season. The only way to get back into the England fold and get recognised is by scoring runs and taking wickets. Luckily enough I’ve started well, so hopefully I can carry that on for the rest of the season. "The FTI MVP rankings are great to have because they tell you how you are doing in terms of your performance and your all-round game in all competitions. To be top is a great achievement and I’m quite proud because there are a lot of county cricketers out there who would like to be number one." Sebastian Mathews, Vice President in the Strategic Communications business segment of FTI Consulting, said: "Following on from Neil Carter’s success in last summer’s FTI MVP rankings, it is another Warwickshire all-rounder, Chris Woakes, who is setting the early pace this season. Chris has made significant contributions with both bat and ball during Warwickshire’s opening fixtures and this is reflected in his impressive FTI MVP points tally, while confirming his status as one of England’s most talented all-rounders." A monthly FTI MVP award is announced throughout the summer for the leading points scorer across the LV= County Championship, Friends Life t20 and Clydesdale Bank 40 for that month. FTI MVP awards are also presented to the leading domestic player at the end of each county season and the leading England player at the end of the domestic international season and again following the winter tour period. Originally conceived by the PCA, the FTI MVP Rankings (powered by PA Sport) are a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held – and how well they do it. For more information on the current standings for the FTI MVP Rankings, check www.ecb.co.uk/stats
