Somerset take MCC Spirit Award for 2005

Twenty20 Cup winners Somerset have added the MCC Spirit of Cricket County Team Award to their list of trophies for the season.

The award was presented at the Professional Cricketers' Association Awards Dinner, which took place on Monday September 26 at the Royal Albert Hall.

The winner was identified, following the allocation of points, on a match-by-match basis, by the first-class umpires.

Somerset emerged as the winners in this, the fifth year of the award's existence after Glamorgan had won in all four preceding years.

John Stephenson, MCC's Head of Cricket, said: "It has been a memorable year for cricket, both domestic and international, and the spirit of the game has been to the fore throughout.

"Congratulations to Somerset for winning this award, recognising the way in which they play the game.

"It is particularly pleasing that they should win it in the same year as they became Twenty20 Cup champions - proof that you can play to win and still play fair."

Alan Fordham, ECB's First Class Cricket Operations Manager, said: "This is the first time that Somerset have won this award, and it's great to see a side win a major competition like the Twenty20 Cup and receive this accolade in the same season.

"We hope that the spirit displayed by the players at Somerset and indeed throughout professional cricket will set an example and spread through all levels of the game."