July Teams of the Month announced

July’s PCA Teams of the Month have been revealed, with both sides selected using the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by OFX.

With both Vitality Blast Finals Days, The Hundred and the men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup all taking place, there have been plenty of chances for players to make their way up the MVP tables.

A strong men’s line-up sees players selected from all over the country, including three players who did not feature in The Hundred at all in July. Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth racked up 111.08 batting points, while Matt Critchley has claimed 18 wickets across the month for Essex.

Hampshire’s Joe Weatherley scored 209 superb runs across the Vitality Blast quarter-final, semi-final and final, a feat that has now earned him a call-up to the Birmingham Phoenix squad. Aneurin Donald takes the gloves after a fantastic month of 271 runs in 5 innings, and is now representing Trent Rockets, but, like Weatherley, did not play in the competition during July.

Hampshire and MI London’s James Vince leads the team out with 126.40 batting points, including a stunning innings of 125 from 61 deliveries in the Vitality Blast quarter-final, a game that earned him 54.12 points and a place at Finals Day.

Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone join Lyth, Vince and Donald to form an explosive top six, with Critchley and Craig Overton a threatening lower order too. Overton continues his astonishing run of form and is yet to miss out on a spot in the Team of the Month this year.

Topping the bowling charts with over 90 bowling points each are Sonny Baker and Usman Tariq, a devastating combination of pace and spin. Yorkshire and London Spirit’s Andrew Tye completes the attack with his valuable experience and skill.

The women’s side also represents a broad range of counties and franchises. Yorkshire, Durham and Surrey each have two players in the XI, with MI London, Manchester Super Giants and SunRisers Leeds players also securing two spots.

The Blaze are boasting three selections, however, after their Vitality Blast victory. Most notable is captain Charli Knott, as the Australian all-rounder earned a superlative 177.58 points in just seven games. She is joined by teammates Kirstie Gordon and Grace Ballinger who took 11 and 13 wickets respectively.

Opening the batting are Georgia Adams and Jess Jonassen, two players who have already made multiple Teams of the Month so far this season. Notably, Laura Harris comes in at three after recording 51.09 batting points in just five games for Surrey.

Durham and MI London captain, Hollie Armitage, wicket-keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill and all-rounders Heather Graham and Charlie Dean constitute a batting order of real depth. Remarkably, the team is compiled of the top 11 in the MVP rankings, testament to the quality of the side.

Seam bowler Ryana MacDonald-Gay rounds off the side having taken 12 wickets at an average of 17.67 for Surrey and Manchester Super Giants.

The PCA’s MVP system works by comparing a player’s accomplishments against the expected performance for that game. Runs and wickets achieved at each ground are also considered and compared to the average. This enables players to score or lose MVP points on every ball through CricViz’s extensive historical database, the rankings are a true reflection of performance.

The teams have been selected to create a realistic and balanced side meaning Somerset and Birmingham Phoenix’s Will Smeed is unfortunate to be left out after scoring a mammoth 122.66 batting points for the month, but Jason Roy’s world-class performances in the field saw him earn a place despite having three fewer batting points. For the women’s side, a rare case of the top 11 players making the lineup means that it is only perhaps Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley in 12^th and 13^th place who can feel aggrieved having not made the team.

Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the men’s and women’s tables.

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