Joe Root has won the Bob Willis Trophy for England’s Player of the Year at the Vitality Cricket Media Club Awards, after a stellar 12 months in which he rose to second in the all-time Test run-scorers’ list.
Fellow England Men’s international Rehan Ahmed was named NV Play Young Player of the Year – an award that dates back to 1950 – while England Women’s fast bowler Lauren Bell collected the JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award.
Haseeb Hameed, Nottinghamshire’s title-winning captain, was voted the County Championship Player of the Year award and Davina Perrin – who scored the fastest-ever century in the Women’s Hundred – claimed the Emerging Cricketer Award, supported by Vitality.
Other winners at the annual CMC lunch, hosted at the Kia Oval on Thursday, included England deaf and mixed disability squad bowler James Dixon, who was named Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricketer of the Year after a remarkable summer that included taking 5 for 11 on England mixed disability debut.
Trailblazing TV production manager Diana Keen was recognised after more than 40 years in the broadcast industry, working with Sky Sports, Channel 4 and the ICC, with the Peter Smith Memorial Award for the outstanding presentation of cricket to the public, while Leo McKinstry was the recipient of the Derek Hodgson Cricket Book of the Year for Bill Edrich.
Root becomes the fourth winner of the Bob Willis Trophy – named in honour of the former England fast bowler – after scoring more than 1000 runs in Test cricket during the voting period, as well as 779 for the ODI side. In both formats he made career-best scores (262 vs Pakistan in Multan; 166 not out vs West Indies in Cardiff).
Root said: “Thank you very much to the Cricket Media Club for this prestigious award. I’m absolutely delighted and humbled to win the Bob Willis Trophy for the England Player of the Year, supported by Vitality.
“To receive anything with the great Bob Willis’s name on it, and an award that is held in such high esteem by the players, coming from the people who watch every ball of cricket all around the world means a huge amount.”
Rehan’s summer saw him play a starring role in Leicestershire’s promotion from Division Two of the Rothesay County Championship with five centuries and 23 wickets – which included a maiden 10-wicket haul.
Rehan said: “It’s an honour to pick up this award from the Cricket Media Club and to see some of the names that have won this NV Play Young Player of the Year before me, it’s just great to be alongside them. It’s been a good year for me on the field and I’m grateful for this award.
“It’s a busy winter with lots of cricket to be played. I’m really looking forward to that Lions tour. Australia is a different place to play and I’ve never been there before so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Bell, who is currently in India with England’s Women’s World Cup squad, was the team’s leading wicket-taker across formats during the 2025 home season.
Bell said: “I’m so happy to have been awarded the JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award by CMC. It’s been a big year for the team and it’s always really nice to be recognised for personal achievements.
“I feel like I’m still developing as a bowler and as a cricketer and hopefully there’s plenty more to come.
“Fingers crossed we can enjoy success on the field out here in India, and we’re all grateful to you for your support of the team and of the women’s game.”
Hameed finished as the second-leading run-scorer in Division One as Nottinghamshire lifted the County Championship for the first time since 2010. Perrin, 19, marked herself out as a candidate for higher honours during a breakout summer for Bears Women and Northern Superchargers
Cricket Media Club chair, Dean Wilson, said: “It has been another fantastic year of cricket for our members to cover, from the gripping drama of an Indian Test series to an inaugural Mixed Disability T20 series to a Women’s Hundred that gave us new stars to get excited about.
“Many congratulations to the award winners including the players who took part in these contests and more, and who have been rightly celebrated at the Vitality Cricket Media Club Awards by the people who have watched, studied and commented on so many cricket matches this year.
“The game and our industry continue to evolve at great pace, but so too does the club with a timely name change to reflect the rich variety of media practitioners who help bring the game alive for as wide an audience as possible.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
- Bob Willis Trophy, supported by Vitality – Joe Root
- JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award – Lauren Bell
- NV Play Young Cricketer of the Year – Rehan Ahmed
- Emerging Cricketer Award, supported by Vitality – Davina Perrin
- County Championship Player of the Year – Haseeb Hameed
- Derek Hodgson Book Award – Diana Keen
- Peter Smith Memorial Award – Leo McKinstry for Bill Edrich
- Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricketer of the Year – James Dixon
NOTES to editors:
The Cricket Media Club is the new name for the Cricket Writers’ Club and the new logo was unveiled for the first time at the Vitality Cricket Media Club Awards.
The Bob Willis Trophy
England’s player of the year – male or female – based on performances between October 1 and September 30. Voted for by the membership.
CMC NV Play Young Cricketer of the Year
The player, from the men’s game, must be England qualified and under-23 at the start of the season. Performances across ALL formats of the game must be taken into account. Voted for by the membership.
CMC JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award
Player to have made a significant impact in elite performance in the women’s game, either during the year or over a longer period. Determined by a CWC judging panel convened by a chosen member. 2025 convenor: Raf Nicholson.
CMC County Championship Player of the Year
Any player in the men’s game, from any county, of any nationality and any age. Voted for by the membership.
CMC Emerging Cricketer of the Year
Player from the women’s game, of any age, who has had a breakthrough season. All formats considered. Voted for by the membership.
CMC Peter Smith Award
For outstanding contribution to the presentation of cricket to the public. Determined by the PSA Panel led by CMC Chair.
CWC Derek Hodgson Book Award
Cricket book of the year (July 1 to June 30) as judged by the CWC Book Awards Sub-Committee. Must be published in the UK.