'Hard to put into words' - Sonny Baker is Hampshire’s first PCA Player of the Year award winner

The 23-year-old took his maiden wickets for England across all three formats, as well as recording first-class career best figures in the County Championship.

Baker is the first Hampshire player to win the trophy, which was first awarded to Mike Atherton in 1990.

Subsequent winners have included Harry Brook, Alistair Cook, former Hampshire seamer Kabir Ali, Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith, while Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed claimed it in 2025.

‘There’s obviously some very, very impressive names on that trophy and to be included in the list is fantastic,’ said Baker.

‘My Test debut was something I’ve been dreaming about since I started cricket at 11 years old. It’s hard to put 2026 into words, I’m over the moon.’

Baker took three wickets on his Test debut against New Zealand, prior to playing all three T20 matches against Sri Lanka last month.

He started that series with 3-12 on his home Utilita Bowl ground, before winning the man of the match award for his 2-17 off 3.5 overs at Old Trafford.

Baker also took his first ODI wicket against Sri Lanka at The Oval.

County-wise, he bagged 29 wickets in eight Championship Division 1 matches in his second season at Hampshire after joining from Somerset.

He took a career best 5-45 against Notts at the Utilita Bowl, while also taking 5-62 against his former county at the same ground.

There was further Utilita Bowl success with Southern Brave’s Tilly Corteen-Coleman winning the PCA’s Women’s Young Player of the Year award at last night’s event in London.

The Surrey spinner, 19, beat off competition from England trio Maia Bouchier – who helped Hampshire reach the One-Day Cup final - Sophia Dunkley and Mady Villiers.

Corteen-Coleman won her maiden ODI and T20 caps for England this summer and is eager to complete the set.

‘It’s obviously a huge year next year for English cricket, so I’d love to be involved as much as possible,’ she said. ‘There’s a red-ball camp, and I still haven’t made my Test debut, so that would be a great opportunity.’

Both Baker and Corteen-Coleman will be hoping to feature in Ashes combat next summer.

*Craig Overton was the big winner at the PCA awards evening, picking up four honours despite his Somerset side falling just short at the end of the season.

The title of county champions once again evaded the Cidermen as they finished in a familiar second place behind Warwickshire, but Overton’s all-round efforts ensured there would be silverware heading to Taunton.

The 32-year-old, who has played eight Tests and seven ODIs for England, took 53 wickets at 19.18 in Division 1 and also hit three centuries, as well as smashing a memorable 79 to carry his side into the T20 Blast finals day.

He was named men’s Player of the Year, domestic MVP and County Championship Player of the Year, as well as being named in the PCA Team of the Year that also included Hampshire seamer Kyle Abbott.

Another standout Somerset performer, captain Sophie Luff, claimed the women’s Player of the Year award having scored over 1,000 runs in a campaign that also saw her win the Hundred with Trent Rockets.