Craig, James Heather and Alex named in PCA Teams of the Month
PCA Team of the Month has returned in 2026 with April’s sides selected using the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by OFX.
Somerset’s Craig Overton, James Rew, Heather Knight and Alex Griffiths have all been included in the teams.
Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke has scored 449 runs in the Rothesay County Championship, leading the run-scoring and MVP points-scoring with 98.51, meaning he captains the side.
Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew scored 379 runs in April and taken 12 catches to secure the keeping spot in the side and continue knocking on the door of an England call-up. Meanwhile Jamie Smith, who currently holds the gloves for England, has impressed with the bat, scoring 401 runs and accumulating 91.64 MVP points.
Glamorgan’s Mason Crane takes the spin bowling spot in the side with 11 wickets in April having also recently shown his prowess with the bat after scoring a career best 99. Hampshire opening bowler, Kyle Abbott, is back in the side having featured in May and September’s XIs last year.
In the women’s game, teams have played either four or five matches in the Metro Bank One Day Cup with Hampshire and Surrey taking an early lead on the table.
Yorkshire have entered Tier 1 with their overseas signing Jess Jonassen storming her way to the top of the MVP Rankings with 136.51 points to captain the women’s side. The Australian proving to be a serious asset so far with 309 runs and has taken more wickets than anyone else in the competition with 12.
Surrey’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge leads the run-scoring charts with 377 runs, including two hundreds, earning her an incredible 91.29 MVP batting points. Essex’s Jodi Grewcock, recently called up to the England squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, has also been batting brilliantly in the middle-order scoring 321 runs at an average of 107 and securing 106.84 MVP points in total.
One of the PCA’s Players to Watch on the MVP in 2026, Somerset’s Alex Griffiths has earnt a place in the side securing 35.93 bowling points for her 11 wickets at an incredible average of 13.63.
Durham and England’s Lauren Filer leads the pace attack with 35.37 bowling points having taken a maiden five-fer in List A cricket.
The player completing the side will be joining Filer in England’s T20 World Cup squad. Surrey’s Tilly Corteen-Coleman has taken nine wickets at 22.77, amassing 36.91 bowling points.
Men’s April Team of the Month:
- Jake Weatherald (Leicestershire)
- Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
- Jamie Smith (Surrey)
- James Rew (Somerset) – (WK)
- Joe Clarke (Nottinghamshire) – (C)
- Ed Barnard (Warwickshire)
- Craig Overton (Somerset)
- Mason Crane (Glamorgan)
- Kyle Abbott (Hampshire)
- Ethan Bamber (Warwickshire)
- James Anderson (Lancashire)
Women’s April Team of the Month:
- Marie Kelly (The Blaze)
- Lauren Winfield-Hill (Yorkshire) – (WK)
- Jess Jonassen (Yorkshire) – (C)
- Heather Knight (Somerset)
- Jodi Grewcock (Essex)
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)
- Sophia Smale (Essex)
- Maitlan Brown (Surrey)
- Alex Griffiths (Somerset)
- Lauren Filer (Durham)
- Tilly Corteen-Coleman (Surrey)
The PCA’s MVP system works by comparing a player’s accomplishments against the expected performance for that game. Runs and wickets achieved at each ground are also considered and compared to the average. This enables players to score or lose MVP points on every ball through CricViz’s extensive historical database, the rankings are a true reflection of performance.
The teams have been selected to create a realistic and balanced side. This meant Hampshire’s Jake Lehmann couldn’t find a place in the side despite a positive start to the season with 77.14 MVP batting points.
Likewise in the women’s game, The Blaze’s Orla Prendergast is unfortunate to miss out on a middle order spot due to the performances of Wyatt-Hodge and Grewcock.
