Stevens riding high in PCA MVP rankings

Darren Stevens again demonstrated why he has been one of the top performers in the Professional Cricketers’ Association Most Valuable Player Rankings over the past decade with another match-winning contribution to Kent’s Specsavers County Championship victory over Sussex at Hove.

Only Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel has accumulated more PCA MVP points in all competitions than Stevens and only Middlesex seamer Tim Murtagh has more rankings points in Championship cricket than the Kent all-rounder.
Although Stevens will turn 41 on April 30 and he made his debut for Leicestershire in 1997, he has lost none of his competitive edge.

At Hove, Stevens made a half century in each innings – taking his tally to three in four County Championship innings this season – and then took five for 51, his second five wicket haul of the season, in Sussex’s second innings.

Stevens followed up his 36 points PCA MVP points haul against Gloucestershire with 44 against Sussex to move into joint third place in the rankings table after two rounds of matches alongside Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell, who also has 80 points.

Yorkshire’s rookie seamer Ben Coad remains the early leader with 98 points with Kyle Abbott of Hampshire just three points ahead of Stevens and Norwell.

In all competitions since the PCA MVP Rankings were introduced in 2007, Stevens has amassed 4,692 points and is now only 75 points behind Patel.

He has narrowed the gap on Murtagh in the all-time County Championship rankings to just 27 points, with Stevens now on 2,518.

Kent captain Sam Northeast climbed to 18th in this season’s PCA MVP table after a productive match against Sussex.

Northeast made 173 not out to set up Kent’s declaration at Hove and earned 30 PCA MVP points. He now has 41 points after two rounds of matches.