Klinger tops T20 Most Valuable Player list - Howell fourth
5 July 2016
Michael Klinger is officially the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast.
The Gloucestershire skipper’s match winning hundred against Somerset has seen him move to the top of the Professional Cricketer’s Association’s (PCA) rankings.
He is joined in the top five by allrounder Benny Howell who is currently in fourth place after taking 14 wickets and contributing valuable runs in double-quick time.
Both players are set to be in action at the Brightside Ground, Bristol this week when Glos entertain Surrey (July 5) and Kent (July 8). For ticket info click here.
The PCA MVP is a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held – and, how well they do it eg scoring rate/economy and percentage of team runs/wickets. It also takes into account captaincy.
Klinger’s score of 101 in the seven wicket Cider Derby win last Friday means he has now scored 315 Blast runs this year – more than anyone else in the competition. His runs – which include three scores of more than 60 in his last four games - have come at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 135. He has also taken five catches and captained his side to six victories.
Michael did the double of being named MVP for both the NatWest T20 Blast and the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2015.
Howell is currently the second highest T20 wicket-taker in the country and only one man – Essex’s Matt Quinn - has bowled more dot balls. He has scored 79 runs at a strike-rate of 127 and has taken two catches.
Hamish Marshall is the only other Glos player in the top 50 Blast, currently occupying 26th position in the rankings.
Benny Howell is also ninth in the RL One-Day Cup standings. If the rankings were to stay in the same order he would be selected to play alongside the international squad in three North v South matches next year as part of a new ECB initiative. Chris Dent is four places below him in 13th.
In the Overall MVP list across all formats Klinger is 14th with Dent 23rd.
