Madsen wins PCA Player of the Month Award for July Derbyshire batsman Wayne Madsen has been voted the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Month for July. Madsen secured his place at the top of the shortlist of four having earned more points – 158 – than anyone else in the country and he came out top in fans’ poll which had just short of 3,500 votes on the PCA and Sky Sports websites. But it was a was a close run thing as Madsen edged out Kent batsman Joe Denly by just 10 votes to become the fourth monthly winner of the new PCA award after Gloucestershire’s Liam Norwell (April), Surrey’s Kumar Sangakkara (May) and Simon Harmer of Essex (June). Yorkshire’s David Willey and Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales also attracted strong support in the online poll having been shortlisted after finishing in the top four PCA MVP points-earners during July. The PCA MVP Rankings system, which was introduced in 2007, identifies the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season. The formula gives full credit to those players whose performances improve their team’s chances of winning. Points are accrued for all runs scored and wickets taken, these are then adjusted within the context of the match to take into account strike rates and economy rates. The formula also takes into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy and strike-rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken with the player who tops the overall PCA MVP Rankings at the end of the season receiving a £ 10,000 prize and a trophy. Madsen’s award is reward for his consistency with bat and ball in the NatWest T20 Blast throughout July. ” It’s a huge honour to be recognised by the PCA and a huge thanks to the supporters and fans who voted for me,” Madsen said upon receiving the engraved award. ” It’s been a great month on the field for me and the team. We’ve performed really well in the NatWest T20 Blast and we’ve put ourselves in a good position to qualify for the quarter finals. ” I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly with the bat but also with the new role with the ball, I haven’t done much bowling in the past but this month I’ve relished bowling in the power plays which has been exciting for me and I’ve enjoyed a little bit of success with it. ” I think I have to give credit to coaching staff and rest of players with way we’ve gone about our cricket in the t20 this year. Huge credit to the squad and coaches, confidence we’ve been playing with as a team has helped me and it’s been a pleasure to work with everyone during everyone and especially during this competition.” The 33-year-old English-qualified South African has topped 40 in eight of his innings in the competition so far including a top score of 86 in the high-scoring defeat by Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Under their new T20 coach, John Wright, Derbyshire have also made clever use of Madsen’s off-spin bowling which is rarely used in championship cricket. Derbyshire have often opened the bowling with Madsen to take the pace off the ball in the Power Play overs. Madsen has responded with a series of miserly spells, with an economy rate of below 6.5 in half of Derbyshire’s eight matches. As well as helping put Derbyshire in contention for a place in the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals, Madsen is supporting the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust as one of his three chosen charities during his Testimonial this year. His busy programme of events includes a Lord’s Long Room Dinner on October 10 and he explains his admiration of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. ” It’s a huge honour to support the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust, it’s a fantastic cause and do a great job for past and present players, I really do encourage people to support the PCA in their 50th year anniversary.” The full PCA MVP Rankings can be viewed here. {{wayne madsen POTM}}
