Naavya Sharma, Ollie Robinson and Tilly Corteen-Coleman have taken leading honours at the Cricket Media Club’s 2026 awards, with a breakthrough youngster and a resurgent England bowler sharing the spotlight at Lord’s.
The club announced its winners on Tuesday 3 November, as it marked its 80th anniversary with an awards lunch at the London ground. Formerly known as the Cricket Writers’ Club, it represents people working across cricket’s media.
Sharma joins a remarkable list
Middlesex quick Sharma, 21, won the NV Play Men’s Young Cricketer of the Year award. He is the 77th recipient of a prize whose previous winners include Ian Botham, James Anderson, Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
His summer combined 35 County Championship wickets in nine matches with a part in Middlesex’s One-Day Cup victory. He could not collect the award in person because he is with England Lions in St Kitts, according to the club’s announcement.
The recognition follows a strong finish to his county season: Middlesex had already named him its men’s emerging player and white-ball player of the year at its own October awards.
Robinson’s comeback earns England honour
Robinson received the Bob Willis Trophy for England Player of the Year after returning to the Test side and taking 28 wickets in four appearances this summer.
The Sussex seamer’s award recognises a successful international return after a prolonged spell outside the side. BBC Sport reported that those performances had carried him back into the top five of the Test bowling rankings.
Warwickshire’s Ethan Bamber won County Championship Player of the Year. His 69 wickets helped the Bears claim the title, with 32 coming during their final six fixtures. Warwickshire’s own season review highlighted four five-wicket hauls and a bowling average of 19.39.
Recognition across the game
Surrey and Southern Brave spinner Corteen-Coleman, 19, was named Women’s Young Cricketer of the Year after making her England debuts in both white-ball formats.
Kirstie Gordon took the Women’s Cricket Award after captaining The Blaze to three domestic trophies, while Angus Brown won Disability Cricketer of the Year. BBC Sport reported that Brown’s season included a 43-ball century against India in mixed disability cricket.
The results celebrate several different routes to a standout season: Sharma’s breakthrough, Robinson’s return and Bamber’s sustained contribution to a title-winning county attack.
For more cricket coverage, read our report on Sri Lanka’s extraordinary chase against England despite Harry Brook’s double century.