Howell welcomes North v South series based on MVP rankings
10 May 2016
Gloucestershire’s players will have the chance to press their claims for a place in England’s 2019 ICC World Cup squad in a North v South series in the UAE next March.
The teams will be picked using the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s (PCA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings, with the highest ranked four players in each region winning automatic selection.
The news has been welcomed by allrounder Benny Howell who was the top Englishman in last year’s Royal London One-Day Cup rankings and would therefore win a place if he can repeat his performances in 2016.
He said: “I think it is a great idea. It is a shame they didn’t start it this year – I will just have to do it again!”
“I like the fact that the rankings are based purely on statistics so you will see the players picked who have had a clear influence in the competition.”
The PCA and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) High Performance Centre at Loughborough have worked closely to enhance the PCA MVP formula which was first introduced in 2007.
The system identifies the match winners and key influencers of matches by using a formula that measures each player’s total contribution by taking into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy, strike rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken.
In addition to the top four players in each region, the top spinner in the MVP ranking will also be selected, while the rest of the squads will be decided by the England selectors.
Benny said the North v South series would provide opportunities for players that might otherwise go under the radar, including some of his Gloucestershire team mates.
He added: “I think the mix of MVP players and selectors’ picks will give you the best of both worlds. I certainly think it will throw up a couple of guys who might not otherwise have got a chance.
“I think the way the rankings are they favour allrounders so I would say Jack Taylor would have a good chance if he has another good year.”
Andrew Strauss, the ECB’s Managing Director of England Cricket, is the driving force behind the North v South fixture and the use of the enhanced PCA MVP Rankings in the selection process.
He said: “This is a good opportunity for England, domestic players and the game.
“Finding the best players outside the current England set-up, playing them against each other in overseas conditions and placing them in an England environment will help us see if they’re ready for international cricket.
“For fans it also gives an added element to the Royal London One-Day Cup, putting the spotlight on the players to follow in the 50-over game.”
In recent years high-achieving MVP performers including Moeen Ali, David Willey, Luke Wright, James Vince, Jason Roy, Samit Patel and Ravi Bopara have gone on to play for England.
Nottinghamshire all-rounder Patel has most cumulative points in 50 overs cricket since the PCA MVP Rankings were introduced ahead of Somerset all-rounder Peter Trego and Durham batsman/wicketkeeper Phil Mustard.
Gloucestershire’s Australian skipper Michael Klinger topped the rankings in both the One-Day and NatWest T20 Blast in 2015.
