Nottinghamshire bowler Luke Fletcher has been named LV= Insurance County Championship Player of the Year.
Earned via the PCA’s MVP points ranking, Fletcher finished ahead of Kent’s Darren Stevens and Essex’s Simon Harmer.
His 352.42 points were the product of his 66 red-ball wickets taken in 2021, the most by any bowler, taken at an average of 14.09.
“I am really proud of what I have achieved this year,” Fletcher said, “Having never taken 50 wickets in a County Championship Season before, it was brilliant to tick that achievement off the list, and to then go beyond that was great.
“To be recognised for the efforts you put in is really nice, and it’s a pleasure to earn this award ahead of some tremendous players who have had very good seasons.”
“At the start of the season, you never expect anything like these personal awards. You just try and do what you can to improve, and do what you can for the team to get over the line.”
Fletcher was a part of a fearsome seam trio in Division One, with Dane Paterson (54 wickets) and Brett Hutton (29 wickets) helping Notts to a third place finish.
“It was an impressive effort by the bowlers all year, and we have gelled really well. We have been relentless and we all have mutual respect for each other and the hard graft that is put in,” Fletcher said.
“When Dane came to the club, I got on with him straight away and I knew he was the type of bloke I would get along with on and off the field. I played with Brett a lot before he left to Northants, now he has come back and is someone who will run in all day for the team and is hugely disciplined.
“It has been a pleasure to play with them, and the guys that have had a vital role to play in the attack this year, including Joey Evison, Lyndon James, Steven Mullaney, Stuart Broad and Liam Patterson-White, who have contributed to a successful season.”
The 33-year-old is also in the running for cinch Player of the Year, alongside Simon Harmer, Joe Root, and David Bedingham. The winner of this award will be announced during day one of the Bob Willis Trophy final.
Fletcher’s award is the second PCA gong received by a Nottinghamshire player this summer, with Samit Patel named as the Vitality Blast Player of the Year.
*******
Nottinghamshire membership for the 2022 season is on sale now, with those who join our club bestowed priority access to tickets for Trent Bridge’s international summer alongside a plethora of additional perks.