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Somerset and Essex all-rounders win first POTM awards of 2026.
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Craig Overton and Jodi Grewcock have won the first PCA Player of the Month awards for 2026, after impressing with bat and ball in April.
Both players were shortlisted for the awards using the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by OFX. The unique algorithm selected the top four men’s and women’s players before they faced a public vote, with the winners decided by a 50:50 split between the two.
Overton accumulated 91.94 MVP points during the month, largely thanks to 52.51 batting points and 51.6 per cent of the public vote to win April’s award. The 32-year-old finished ahead of Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke, who scored an incredible 96.51 batting points on the MVP table. Meanwhile, Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard and Surrey’s Jamie Smith finished third and fourth respectively after positive starts to their campaigns.
In the women’s game, Grewcock and Danni Wyatt-Hodge achieved the same percentage of the public vote (34), but the Essex all-rounder had accrued more MVP points, handing her the trophy. Leading the MVP points total in April with 136.51 MVP points was Yorkshire’s Jess Jonassen who finished third with Grewcock’s Essex teammate Sophia Smale in fourth.
Overton wins men’s Player of the Month
Overton contributed eight wickets and 253 runs during April, registering the second most amount of MVP points alongside taking four catches whilst captaining the Somerset side.
The 32-year-old led his team to victory over Essex by 10 wickets in a game where he also won the Match MVP award.
Match figures of 4-81 at Chelmsford and a fantastic 141 from 180 balls earnt the all-rounder 55.61 MVP points.
After winning the first monthly accolade of 2026, Overton said: “It’s been a great start to the season and it’s been nice to chip in with the bat, the big score against Essex was important for us to win the game and it’s coming out nicely with the ball too.
“Something that I’ve been working on was the ability to chip in more with the bat, having spent a lot of time in the winter working on my batting it was nice to see some results, it means you’re doing the right things in training and hopefully I can carry on that form.
“It’s good fun captaining and makes me think about the game in a different way and manage different players and characters in the group, hopefully Lewis (Gregory) can continue doing that for a few years though.
“It makes me relax a little bit and takes my mind of bowling which can sometimes help with my game when I’m thinking about how I can help other people.
“We’ve got a good team and we’re developing a younger group, we feel like we have a great squad to compete and it’s nice to get a good start.
“It’s great to win this award and to start the season so well. Thanks to everyone that has voted, it means a lot, we’re very grateful for all the support in Somerset and throughout the country.”
A great start to 2026 for Grewcock
Having last picked up a PCA Player of the Month award in July 2023, Grewcock’s brilliant start to the season saw her average 107 with the bat, scoring 321 runs – including a first ever professional hundred.
That innings of 120 from 116 balls against Somerset helped Essex win the game and earnt the 21-year-old 44.97 MVP points.
Grewcock also scored two half centuries and has been rewarded for her good form with a call up to the England ODI squad to face New Zealand.
On winning the award, Grewcock said: “It means a lot when the votes come in from your peers and the fans and it’s really nice to receive the award. It’s great to have lots of supporters down at Essex, there’s always a lot of them and it’s nice to get their recognition.
“I know that if I’m scoring runs and taking wickets for Essex then I’m going to be in a good place. I just try to keep things simple, stay calm and try and play my game and help the team.
“My first professional hundred was a really special moment for me, getting to three figures was amazing. The best part was winning the game for Essex, it felt like a real team win.
“It’s nice to be exposed to the England environment and with great support at Essex it’s allowed me to prepare for the season and express myself.
“I’m really excited about being involved in the ODI squad with the England group. I can take confidence from the Essex games and I’m going into it feeling ready.
“It would be a dream to make my debut for England, that would be really special.”
Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the men’s and women’s tables.
Save time and money with OFX, the PCA’s Official FX partner, offering members bank-beating rates and an easier way to send money home.
