It’s with great pleasure that, after a remarkable run and wicket-filled season, we can announce our CricX Team of the Year.
We must admit, it was an impossible task to short-list the pick of our players to 30 initially, to then select only 11. It’s fair to say, there will be some disgruntled clients who didn’t make the cut, but that’s certainly not to discredit their seasons. It’s just the bar for selection was so high, and we can only pick 11.
As you’ll see from the player’s selected below – the majority have played ECB Premier League cricket this summer, so selection was weighted on the standard played, alongside the numbers, of course. Emphasis was placed on clients who dominated league run and wicket charts, plus those who helped guide their sides to titles.
It wasn’t an easy task, but the players below absolutely deserve and justify their TOTY selections. A massive congrats to those selected, and for those who narrowly missed out, there’s always next year!
Sangeeth Cooray (Woodford Wells – Essex League)
960 runs @ 64 (1×100, 9x50s) & 40 wickets @ 10.15 (3x5w)
The Sri Lankan A left-handed opener enjoyed a prolific season in Essex – not just with the bat, but also the ball. As a genuine opening bat, Sangeeth was already shoe-horned to make our TOTY courtesy of his runs, but to factor in 40 wickets at 10.15 (30 at 9.20 in the league itself) with his off-spin, guaranteed his selection.
Yash Kothari (Benwell Hill – North East Premier League)
1113 runs @ 65.47 (5x100s, 4x50s) & 30 wickets @ 26.10
The Rajasthan run-machine was simply outstanding in the North East this summer, finishing second on the NEPL (Prem) run charts narrowly to Durham’s Stuart Poynter (814 runs at 73.82). He struck 5 hundreds, including a brilliant 171* to conclude his season. Add his 30 wickets bowling left-arm spin to his tally and it’s no wonder Yash joins Sangeeth up top in our TOTY.
Avishka Tharindu (Bracebridge Heath – Lincolnshire League)
2383 runs @ 79.43 (7x100s, 13x50s) & 39 wickets @ 19.82 (1x5w)
It was a remarkable maiden UK season for the former Sri Lankans Emerging Players star. He racked up an incredible 7 centuries in all cricket, and his 2,283 runs ensured he topped our CricX run charts, not to mention taking the top sport in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League itself (1,174 runs at 83.86). If his runs weren’t enough, Avishka also weighed in with 39 poles at 19.82. What a season. It’s no wonder Bracebridge were swift to re-sign him!
Callum Taylor (West Herts – Hertfordshire League)
748 runs @ 74.80 (2x100s, 4x50s) & 26 wickets @ 24.27 (1x5w)
The former Glamorgan gun was one of our most sought after clients ahead of the 2024 season, and the numbers produced this summer confirm why. Callum was the Hertfordshire Premier League’s top all-rounder, heading the run charts and sixth in the wicket tally. A spectacular season for the dual Passport holder who will be back for more again in 2025!
Dushan Vimukthi (Townville – Bradford League)
1431 runs @ 55.04 (3x100s, 8x50s) & 83 wickets @ 16.37 (4x5w)
The Sri Lankan all-rounder was quite simply outstanding in the Bradford League (and various Cup competitions) this summer. A favourite of our friends at the The Premier League Cricket Show, statistically, Dushan will be up there as one of the best (if not the best) all-rounder in Premier League cricket this summer. An absolute shoe-in for our TOTY!
Manisankar Murasingh (Philadelphia – North East Premier League)
1401 runs @ 56.04 (6x100s, 5x50s) & 51 wickets @ 14.00 (3x5w)
It’s fair to say, the Indian all-rounder reaffirmed himself as one of the best seam bowling all-rounder professionals on the market with another dominant season in the North East. The man from Tripura topped the NEPL run charts, and was the leading seamer in division one. He also struck a remarkable 6 hundreds – with his 132-ball 185* the pick of these – an innings that included 10 fours, and 19 sixes. Oh, he then took 3-29 (9) including both openers in the second innings. Some player!
Cole Briggs (wk) (Harpenden – Hertfordshire League)
1058 runs @ 48.09 (2x100s, 8x50s) & 47 dismissals
The keeper-batting position was a tightly-fought contest but we’ve gone in favour of the former Auckland Ace. He topped the Hertfordshire League run charts (978 runs at 54.33) and helped guide Harpenden to the Premier League title. However, it was the way he dominated games that paved way to his TOTY selection, with a season strike rate of 119.27 in the league including a total of 56 sixes. His destructive approach, and dismissals behind the sticks, were hugely influential factors in his clubs success this summer.
Thikshila de Silva (Great Harwood – Lancs League & Alsager – North Staffs)
1227 runs @ 38.34 (1×100, 7x50s) & 123 wickets @ 12.57 (7x5w)
What more can you say. Thikshila has been a league legend for so long, and assuming he stays fit, will no doubt break all sorts of Lancashire League records. The Sri Lankan all-rounder enjoyed another barnstorming season – playing in the Lancs League, and also as Alsager’s permanent sub pro in the North Staffs comp. We’re pretty sure he’ll be near enough top of the UK wicket charts this summer, and when you add yet another 1,000+ run tally to the mix, it’s why he’s in our TOTS yet again.
Mohit Jangra (Highfield – Liverpool League)
685 runs @ 52.69 (2x100s, 3x50s) & 73 wickets @ 12.66 (5x5w)
Much was expected of the former Indian U19 all-rounder and boy oh boy, did he deliver this summer. He finished inside the top few run-scorers and wicket-takers in Division 1 of the Liverpool League, bagging 5-fors, scoring tons, and producing numerous match-winning performances throughout the summer. When selecting our TOTY, a left-arm pace option was a key point of difference and given Mohit’s numbers this season, his selection was absolutely justified.
Shafiqullah Ghafari (Richmondshire – NYSD)
630 runs @ 26.25 (1×100, 3x50s) & 99 wickets @ 10.60 (9x5w)
Quite simply – the best leg-spinner in club cricket this summer. His success helped his side to the NYSD Premier League title. A quite remarkable haul of wickets – narrowly missing out on his second 100+ season tally for Richmondshire, but a bowling average of 10.60 and 9 five-for’s guaranteed the Afghan’s TOTY selection. Oh, also thrown up top to open towards the end of the summer, he belted a rapid ton to evidence his all-around ability. Some player, and we suspect even bigger things to come for the talented tweaker.
Mayank Mishra (c) (Cleethorpes – Yorkshire Southern Premier League)
174 runs @ 14.50 (1×50) & 74 wickets @ 10.34 (6x5w)
Our skipper. The legend that is Mr. Mayank Mishra. What a player. What a bloke. What a season. The Uttarakhand left-arm spinner was unplayable this summer, topping the Yorkshire Southern Premier League wicket charts including 6 five-wicket hauls. He finished 24 wickets ahead of second in the Prem. Bagged a wicket every 21 balls, with an economy of 2.77 and average of 9.76 in the league itself. Remarkable figures. Mayank was the main man, and his exploits helped Cleethorpes bag the Premier League title with games to spare. Well played, skip. Roll on next summer.
Congrats to the guys above on their TOTY selection. To visit all our client stats for the 2024 season, please click here. *
(* Stats of players on the play-cricket platform only)
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