The Professional Cricket Association (PCA) 2024-awards night saw Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce become the first non-English recipient of the Women’s Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year award, while Lauren Bell claimed The Radio Recognition Award, Ryana MacDonald-Gay the Women’s Young Player of the Year and Anna Harris the Umpire of the Year.
PCA Women’s Player of the Year:
Kathryn Bryce:-
The 26-year-old all-rounder and Scotland skipper has been in brilliant form in the domestic as well as the international level. The Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce played a pivotal role in helping her side seal a historic ticket to the upcoming 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. It will be their maiden appearance in a T20 World Cup. She was the leading run-scorer for her side and the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 177 runs at a strike rate of 112.02 and a mind-boggling average of 88.50 in five innings. Her tally of runs included a couple of half-centuries.
Apart from her exploits with the bat, she was also the 2nd highest wicket-taker for her side after Rachel Slater (11 wickets in six innings) and the 3rd highest wicket-taker of the tournament. She picked up 9 wickets at an impressive average of 6.88 and a sensational economy of 3.87 in five innings with the ball. Her tally of wickets included a couple of four-wicket hauls. Her best performance with the ball for her side came on 5th May 2024 against Ireland in Abu Dhabi against Ireland in the 1st semi-final when she returned with exceptional match figures (4-0-8-4) in her spell.
When it comes to the franchise leagues, she represented the Oval Invincibles in the 4th edition of the Women’s Hundred. She was the 3rd highest run-scorer for her side with 118 runs at a strike rate of 99.15 and an average of 23.60 in seven innings. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she was the leading wicket-taker for her side with seven wickets to her name at an average of 25.28 and an economy of 8.29 in 8 innings. Her tally of runs includes one five-wicket haul against the Northern Superchargers on 11th August 2024. She returned with match figures (20-10-13-5) with the ball for her side.
She also represented the Blaze in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, playing a pivotal role in her side’s title-winning campaign. She was the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 478 runs at a strike rate of 120.10 and an impressive average of 43.45 in 12 innings. Her tally of runs includes five half-centuries. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she was also the 4th highest wicket-taker for her side with 10 wickets to her name at an average of 26.10 in 12 innings.
She was also a part of the Blaze in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She was the 3rd highest run-scorer for her side with 272 runs at a strike rate of 83.18 and an impressive average of 45.33 in seven innings with the bat for her side. Her tally of runs includes a couple of half-centuries. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she was also the 3rd highest wicket-taker for her side as she picked up 15 wickets at an impressive average of 15.13 and a sensational economy of 3.88 in 8 innings. Her tally of wickets includes a couple of four-wicket hauls for her side. She also bagged a couple of individual PCA MVP Awards in the process of amassing 1,650 runs and taking 51 wickets this year.
PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year:
Ryana MacDonald-Gay:-
The young 20-year-old all-rounder was rewarded for her consistent, impressive performances at the domestic level. She made her international debut on 7th September 2024 in an ODI against Ireland. She also went on to make her T20I debut on 15th September 2024 against the same opposition (Ireland). As far as the franchise leagues is concerned, she was a part of the Oval Invincibles in the 4th edition of the Women’s Hundred, picking 8 wickets in 9 innings with the ball, and was particularly impressive in the One-Day games, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, averaging 16.7 for her 21 wickets, taking a career maiden five-wicket haul.
The Radio Recognition Award:
Lauren Bell:-
The 23-year-old speedster is having a decent time at the international level as well as at the domestic level. In the T20I format this year, she has picked up 14 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 15, and an economy of 6.92. In the ODI format, she has picked up 13 wickets at an impressive average of 16.15 and an economy of 4.84 in six innings. Her tally of wickets includes one five-wicket haul. She also represented Southern Brave in the 4th edition of the Women’s Hundred, picking up 9 wickets in 8 innings with the ball for her side. Her tally of wickets includes one four-wicket haul.
