Gus Atkinson Wins Bob Willis Trophy as England’s Player of the Year
Gus Atkinson, the rising star of English cricket, has been crowned the Bob Willis Trophy winner as England’s Player of the Year. The 23-year-old all-rounder had a remarkable debut Test summer, amassing 34 wickets and scoring his maiden century.
Atkinson’s impressive performances earned him the prestigious award, voted for by members of the Cricket Writers’ Club. The award ceremony, held at the Kia Oval, also recognized other outstanding cricketers.
Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old spinner, was named NV Play Young Player of the Year. Bashir has rapidly ascended to become England’s first-choice spinner, claiming three Test five-fors in the past year.
Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s leading female spinner, won the JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award. Ryana MacDonald-Gay, a promising all-rounder, was voted Emerging Cricketer.
Liam Dawson, who was recently named the Professional Cricketers’ Association men’s player of the year, claimed the County Championship prize.
Atkinson expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, “I was just hoping to make my England Test debut, and to have the summer that I’ve had, it’s a huge honor and to get this award at the end of it tops it off.”
Bashir, who has made a meteoric rise in the past year, said, “Two years ago, I didn’t have a county. It’s been really special. With a lot of hard work, I’m thankful to be playing for my country. Long may it continue.”
Other award winners included Brendon Parr, who received the Lord’s Taverners charity’s Disability Cricketer of the Year award. James Anderson and the cast of Tailenders won the Peter Smith Award for outstanding presentation of cricket to the public. David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts won the Derek Hodgson Cricket Book of the year for “Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes.”
Cricket Writers’ Club chair Dean Wilson praised the award winners, saying, “Huge congratulations to all our award winners, reflecting another terrific year of cricket for all members of the media to cover.”