Joe Denly has capped off a remarkable season for Kent with bat and ball to be named as the PCA’s Most Valuable Player.
Denly, 32, topped the PCA MVP rankings with 579 points, beating Surrey’s Rikki Clarke and Worcestershire’s Ed Barnard to the award after an excellent season in all formats.
With over 1,700 runs across the three domestic competitions, Denly played a central role in Kent’s promotion to Division One as well as their run to the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup.
In addition to his crucial runs, Denly has transformed himself into a capable all-rounder, with his leg-spin bringing him 57 wickets this summer.
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Joe Denly has earned an England recall at the age of 32[/caption]
Such has been the all-round excellence of the former Middlesex batsman, he now finds himself in England’s Test party for the tour of Sri Lanka, eight years after his last international appearance.
Receiving a cheque for £10,000, Denly reflected on an unforgettable season. “I’m absolutely delighted, it’s obviously a great accolade to get,” he said. “It hasn’t just been individually; as a team we have achieved a lot as well. Personally, it would have been nice to have ended the season better and to have scored a few more runs in the Championship to get past 1,000.
[breakout id=”0″][/breakout]“However, across all forms I’ve been pretty consistent this year which has been pleasing and bowling a few overs has certainly helped in the MVP process.”
To add to Denly’s growing list of achievements, he has been awarded a testimonial year in 2019 by Kent. Nevertheless, his attentions will now be turning towards a winter in which he will be hoping to make his Test bow for England.
“Later this month I will be leaving for Sri Lanka and getting that call topped off an amazing year, I am delighted and it’s a dream come true really, so I can’t wait to get started and get over to Sri Lanka.”
