SOMERSET star Tom Banton has been named young player of the year at a prestigious cricket awards.

The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter picked up the gong at the 2019 Professional Cricketers' Association awards, held at the Roundhouse, Camden.

England star Ben Stokes picked up the player of the year award after playing a starring role in England's maiden World Cup win, before repeating his heroics to help salvage an Ashes draw with Australia.

The 28-year-old Durham player was honoured for those achievements by scooping the Reg Hayter Cup ahead of fellow nominees Simon Harmer, Ryan Higgins and Dom Sibley.

England bowler Sophie Ecclestone collected the women's player of the summer.

"If you'd told me at the beginning of the year that this was going to happen, I wouldn't have believed you," Banton said, after taking the award over James Bracey, Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley.

"It's obviously a nice feeling.

"I think at the beginning of the year, I wasn't entirely sure where I stood at Somerset, either white or red ball.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to play, if I was going to be in the (second XI)."

Other award winners included ODI player of the summer Chris Woakes, Test player of the summer Stuart Broad, and County Championship player of the year Harmer.

Somerset County Gazette:
JUMPING FOR JOY: Tom Banton after another successful innings this season. PICTURE: Alex Davidson/SCCC