Gus Atkinson and Sophie Ecclestone Among Honorees at 2024 Cricket Writers’ Club Awards

Gus Atkinson, whose bowling and batting achievements with England have earned him a place on all three Lord’s honours boards, was recognized as the England player of the year at the 2024 Cricket Writers’ Club awards, receiving the Bob Willis Trophy. The fast bowler from Surrey made his Test debut in July and was subsequently named player of the series, having claimed 22 wickets across three matches against West Indies. Sophie Ecclestone, ranked as the world’s top bowler in both white-ball formats, was presented with the Women’s Cricket Award. Shoaib Bashir, aged 21, received the Young Player of the Year award, an accolade that dates back to 1950. The Peter Smith Award, which acknowledges exceptional contributions to the public presentation of cricket, was awarded to James Anderson and the team behind the BBC Sounds podcast Tailenders. Liam Dawson, an all-rounder for Hampshire, was given the County Championship Player of the Year award, while Ryana MacDonald-Gay, a 20-year-old all-rounder representing Surrey and Oval Invincibles, earned the Emerging Cricketer of the Year honour. Atkinson secured the Bob Willis Trophy, an award designated for the England men’s or women’s player of the year, following a remarkable beginning to his Test career. The 26-year-old claimed 12 wickets in his inaugural Test match at Lord’s, contributing to England’s victory over West Indies by an innings and 114 runs. He later recorded match figures of 6-95 in Anderson’s final Test. In August, Atkinson returned to Lord’s, where he scored his first Test century against Sri Lanka, becoming the first England number eight to achieve a Test ton in 11 years. “I was just hoping to make my England Test debut, and to have the summer that I’ve had, it’s a huge honour and to get this award at the end of it tops it off,” Atkinson said. He added, “My debut, taking 12 wickets was very special, and playing in Jimmy’s last Test was a big honour. Probably my favourite moment was that century against Sri Lanka.” Ecclestone, 25, who received the Women’s Cricket Award, achieved the milestone of becoming the fastest woman to secure 100 ODI wickets earlier in the current year. The left-arm spinner reached this benchmark in 63 innings, surpassing the previous record held by Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who required one additional innings to accomplish the same feat. By winning the Young Player of the Year award, off-spinner Bashir joined an esteemed group of past recipients, including Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Ian Botham, and Nasser Hussain. At the age of 20 years and 282 days, he became the youngest England bowler to achieve a five-wicket innings haul in a home Test, recording figures of 5-41 against West Indies at Trent Bridge. “It’s been really special. With a lot of hard work, I’m thankful to be playing for my country. Long may it continue,” Bashir commented. The full list of award recipients includes: Gus Atkinson for the Bob Willis Trophy for England player of the year; Sophie Ecclestone for the Women’s Cricket Award; Shoaib Bashir for Men’s Young Cricketer of the Year; Liam Dawson for County Championship Player of the Year; Ryana MacDonald-Gay for Emerging Cricketer of the Year; Brendon Parr for Disability Cricketer of the Year; James Anderson and the cast of Tailenders for the Peter Smith Award; and David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts for the Derek Hodgson Book Award for Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes.