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Sophia Dunkley wins Metro Bank ODI Women’s Player of the Summer
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Sophia Dunkley has won the Metro Bank ODI Women’s Player of the Summer award, having finished top of the MVP Rankings, powered by OFX, following the conclusion of the women’s international summer.
England drew 1-1 with New Zealand in May and beat Ireland 3-0 in September with Charlie Dean as captain.
Dunkley took the award despite only playing three ODIs this summer against Ireland, scoring 212 runs at an average of 70.60 and a strike-rate of 105.47, earning 45.85 MVP points.
The 28-year-old won the Match MVP award and picked up 26.47 points against Ireland in the third ODI, for scoring a run-a-ball 119 with 15 fours at the top of the order in what was a new career best in the format.
The Surrey batter also scored 73 off 61 balls with 13 fours in the first game against Ireland.
On winning the award, Dunkley said: “It was good to get the series win today and Bouch (Maia Bouchier) was great at the other end, it was good to see us home.
“Bouch and I are both positive with the bat and when we get on top we like to keep going so it’s been great to bat with her this series.
“I just love batting and I back myself and it’s nice to be at the top of the order in ODI cricket.”
Maia Bouchier, who finished second and just 0.35 points behind Dunkley, impressed with the bat throughout the summer scoring 247 runs at an average of 61.75, amassing 45.50 MVP points.
The 27-year-old opening batter earned a Match MVP in the first match against Ireland at Grace Road, claiming 21.67 points for her brilliant knock of 104 off 95 balls which included 11 fours in a six-wicket victory.
Bouchier also scored 59 off 69 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI at Chester-le-Street as England won a thriller by one wicket.
England captain Dean came third in the rankings having taken five wickets at an average of 29.40, securing 35.94 points on the MVP table.
This summer’s ODI captain, filling in for Nat Sciver-Brunt, oversaw a victory against New Zealand and three against Ireland. She secured a Match MVP in the opening game against New Zealand after taking figures of 2-21, before her unbeaten innings of 31 off 46 balls led England to a one-wicket win.
The Metro Bank ODI Women’s Player of the Summer was selected by the PCA Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by OFX, the PCA’s Official FX Partner. The formula takes into account expected performance on every ball according to CricViz’s extensive database. The algorithm also considers the historic performances of the venue each fixture is being played at, therefore giving a more accurate reflection of the top performers in the game than traditional batting and bowling averages do.
Freya Kemp has claimed the Overall Women’s International MVP finishing the summer with 170.5 points, having won the Vitality IT20 Women’s Player of the Summer. Dean finished second on 157.32 points, with Alice Capsey in third on 143.94.
The next international cricket for the England women’s side will be in February 2027 in the ICC Champions Trophy.
View the final ODI and Overall Women’s International tables here.
