ECB Domestic Journalism Awards, 2017

Isabelle Westbury and Charlie Taylor have created a double first in the seventh annual Domestic Cricket Journalism Awards.

Westbury has become the first female winner of the Domestic Cricket Broadcaster of the Year award – one of two that carry the name of Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the former commentator and journalist.

Taylor, who works for BBC Somerset, has become the first broadcaster to win the other “CMJ” award, the Young Cricket Journalist of the Year – for his fortnightly cricket show which has included an outstanding documentary on the career of Jos Buttler, and other exclusive content with Somerset players past and present, as well as the former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Westbury, who writes for a range of publications in addition to her regular contributions to the BBC’s radio and on-line coverage of county and women’s cricket, was also a runner-up in that category - along with Will Macpherson, the 2016 winner.

Taylor’s programmes were also part of a winning entry from the BBC for the Outstanding Online Coverage of Domestic Cricket award, including their ball-by-ball coverage of every county and Kia Super League fixture, and extensive written coverage of the domestic game on bbc.co.uk and their other digital platforms.

Also commended in the Online category was theguardian.com, for their coverage of the KSL and the continued excellence and entertainment of their County Cricket Live Blog, usually led by Macpherson.

The Times was recognised for Outstanding Newspaper Coverage of Domestic Cricket, a category for which submissions were invited for the first time – with an additional commendation for a strong entry from the Daily Mail.

The Nottingham Post was named Regional Newspaper of the Year for their imaginative and innovative coverage of Nottinghamshire cricket led by Matt Davies.

Stuart Rayner’s continued commitment to covering the game in the north-east in The Journal and the Sunday Sun in 2017 was also recognised; and the Sunday Independent, the overall 2016 winner which has maintained its extensive coverage of Somerset, Gloucestershire and Devon in addition to club cricket in the south-west, was also named as a runner-up, meaning they will receive a share of the £2,500 prize fund available in this category for a second consecutive year.

Mark Baldwin, chairman of the Cricket Writers’ Club, said: “We are delighted that ECB continue to make these awards, which underline the importance of high-quality media coverage of our domestic game. Winning significant editorial space for the domestic game across all media platforms is vital for cricket’s overall health in England and Wales.

“It is particularly pleasing to see the strength of the entries of young journalists Charlie Taylor, Isabelle Westbury and Will Macpherson, and the quality of the portfolios entered by the regional newspapers. I would like to congratulate all the winners of the various categories, and those who received commendations.

“For a second year, the Cricket Writers’ Club’s overall support for these awards includes the provision of a prize fund for the Regional Newspaper of the Year category, precisely because we as a club want to do what we can to support coverage of county and domestic cricket.

“The monies that the Nottingham Post and the Sunday Independent receive are designed to supplement coverage of the county game by their staff writers or regular freelance contributors, and I would like to thank CWC sponsors William Hill, The Lord’s Taverners, Smile Group Travel and Benenden Health for the support which makes our prize fund offer possible.”

Peter Baxter, the long-serving former producer of BBC Test Match Special, added of Westbury’s recognition as Domestic Cricket Broadcaster of the Year: “The decision was closer than usual this year, with a high standard of entries including three previous winners. In choosing Isabelle – our first female winner – I particularly appreciated her inherent enthusiasm and her ability to change up a gear for detailed descriptions of crucial moments in the game.”

The full list of winners:

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Domestic Cricket Broadcaster of the Year: Isabelle Westbury

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Young Journalist of the Year: Charlie Taylor, BBC Somerset. Runners-up: Isabelle Westbury, Will Macpherson

Outstanding Online Coverage of Domestic Cricket:BBC Online, including BBC Somerset Cricket Show. Commended: theguardian.com

Outstanding Newspaper Coverage of Domestic Cricket: The Times. Commended: Daily Mail

Regional Newspaper of the Year: Nottingham Post Commended: Sunday Sun / The Journal, Sunday Independent.