Cricket: Top award for Loye

FOUR PLAYERS left Northamptonshire yesterday as team-mate Mal Loye was voted the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year

The 27-year-old opening batsman Richard Montgomerie is the most senior of the players released, along with batsman Tim Walton, pace bowler Scott Boswell and all-rounder Michael Dobson.

The club must still decide on their overseas player for 1999, and no fresh terms have yet been offered to the West Indies fast bowler Franklyn Rose.

Loye's award means the 25-year-old batsman completes a rare double, having been named the PCA young player of the year in 1993. He joins Dominic Cork as the only cricketer to have won both nominations.

Loye, named for the England A tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa in the New Year, was the first Englishman to score 1,000 runs this season, which included 322 not out against Glamorgan. He topped the AXA League scoring with 650 runs.

The Northamptonshire player won the award ahead of Angus Fraser, Graeme Hick and Courtney Walsh.

The Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff received the Arlott Cup as PCA young player of the year to add to his cricket writers' award. The 20-year-old made his first two full England appearances in the Tests which won the series against South Africa and he also helped his county to the NatWest Trophy and AXA League titles.

Hick made up for losing out to Loye by winning the PCA individual performance award after becoming the second-youngest player (behind Wally Hammond) to achieve 100 first-class centuries in his career.

Ray Julian was umpire of the season, while Dickie Bird - who retired last week - received a special award in recognition of a lifetime's service to the sport.