Northamptonshire Steelbacks captain David Willey has been named Vitality Blast Men’s Player of the Year after a dominant all-round campaign in the 2025 tournament.
The 35-year-old all-rounder topped the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings, powered by OFX, with 293.03 points — finishing well ahead of second-placed Will Jacks.
Willey’s all-round brilliance drives MVP win
Willey delivered a standout season, scoring 452 runs, taking 20 wickets, and completing 17 catches. His performances earned him a bespoke trophy from Mappin & Webb and a £2,500 prize.
The MVP trophy was presented during an exciting Vitality Blast Finals Day, where Somerset claimed their third T20 title with a thrilling run chase over Hampshire, sealed by captain Lewis Gregory’s match-winning six.
Match-winning performances highlight Willey’s impact
Willey earned two Blast Match MVPs in 2025:
- Vs Yorkshire: 54 off 24 balls (6 sixes) and 3 wickets — 37.28 MVP points
- Vs Derbyshire: 37 runs and bowling figures of 2-19 — 39.77 MVP points
He also smashed 29 sixes, the second-most in the competition behind Aneurin Donald (31).
June: Willey’s peak performance month
Willey dominated in June, scoring 182 runs, taking 10 wickets, and claiming 12 catches. This led to him being named captain of the PCA Men’s Team of the Month with 155.69 MVP points for the month — the highest of any player.
Jacks and Donald round out MVP podium
Will Jacks (Surrey & England) finished second with 253.43 MVP points, scoring 504 runs at an average of 50.40. He won five Match MVPs, with his best coming against Sussex: 100 from 59 balls — 54.94 MVP points.
Aneurin Donald (Derbyshire) was third with 206.28 MVP points, including four Match MVPs and a strike-rate of 216.90 across his 449 runs.
PCA MVP formula redefines performance measurement
The PCA MVP Rankings, powered by OFX, use CricViz data to calculate expected performance on each ball. It factors in player impact, match context, and venue history — offering a more advanced metric than traditional averages.
Other 2025 domestic MVP leaders
- Jordan Cox (Oval Invincibles): The Hundred Men’s Player of the Year — 159.89 points
- Ed Barnard (Warwickshire): Men’s Domestic Overall MVP leader — 538.71 points
- James Coles (Sussex): Second overall — 493.50 points
- Ethan Brookes (Worcestershire): Third overall — 460.02 points
The next major domestic honour will be the Metro Bank One Day Cup Men’s Player of the Year, to be decided on Sunday, 21 September, at Trent Bridge. Essex’s Tom Westley currently leads that MVP race with 149.88 points.
Cricketers’ Trust spotlighted during Finals Day
Vital work by the Cricketers’ Trust was highlighted throughout Finals Day. A special tribute video and generous donations underscored the charity’s mission to support cricketers and their families, including the family of the late James Thorpe.
View the full Vitality Blast and Men’s Domestic MVP Rankings here.
OFX is the PCA’s Official FX Partner, offering members bank-beating rates and a simpler way to send money home.
