Who is the best T20 player in last two years?

By Adrian Meredith

VICTORIA, Australia (TheSportsNext) September 17, 2012: The LG ICC Awards didn't award a T20 player of the year. I think that they should have. So I have worked out the best performances in the past two cricket seasons (since the last World T20), which was held exactly two years ago.

 

So here are the results:

WI vs RSA: 3 - R McLaren (RSA), 2 - KA Pollard (WI), 1 - JH Kallis (RSA)

WI vs RSA: 3 - J Botha (RSA), 2 - JE Taylor (WI), 1 - DJ Sammy (WI)

NZ vs SL: 3 - SB Styris (NZ), 2 - DL Vettori (NZ), 1 - KD Mills (NZ)

NZ vs SL: 3 - Kulasekera (SL), 2 - SL Malinga (SL), 1 - NL McCullum (NZ)

Zim vs Ind: 3 - YK Pathan (Ind), 2 - R Vinay Kumar (Ind), 1 - PP Ojha (Ind)

Zim vs Ind: 3 - SK Raina (Ind), 2 - AB Dinda (Ind), 1 - M Vijay (Ind)

Pak vs Aus: 3 - Umar Akmal (Pak), 2 - Mohammad Amir (Pak), 1 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak)

Pak vs Aus: 3 - Mohammad Amir (Pak), 2 - SNJ O'Keefe (Aus), 1 - DP Nannes (Aus)

Eng vs Pak: 3 - MH Yardy (Eng), 2 - EJG Morgan (Eng), 1 - GP Swann (Eng)

Eng vs Pak: 3 - TT Bresnan (Eng), 2 - SCJ Broad (Eng), 1 - RJ Sidebottom (Eng)

RSA vs Zim: 3 - GC Smith (RSA), 2 - LE Bosman (RSA), 1 - JP Duminy (RSA)

RSA vs Zim: 3 - JP Duminy (RSA), 2 - BRM Taylor (Zim), 1 - CJ Chibhabha (Zim)

Pak vs RSA: 3 - CA Ingram (RSA), 2 - JP Duminy (RSA), 1 - LL Tsotsobe (RSA)

Pak vs RSA: 3 - J Theron (RSA), 2 - CA Ingram (RSA), 1 - LL Tsotsobe (RSA)

Aus vs SL: 3 - S Randiv (SL), 2 - SPD Smith (Aus), 1 - NLTC Perera (SL)

NZ vs Pak: 3 - TG Southee (NZ), 2 - MJ Guptill (NZ), 1 - LRPL Taylor (NZ)

NZ vs Pak: 3 - NL McCullum (NZ), 2 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak), 1 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pak)

NZ vs Pak: 3 - Abdul Razzaq (Pak), 2 - Shahid Afridi (Pak), 1 - Ahmed Shehzad (Pak)

RSA vs Ind: 3 - RG Sharma (Ind), 2 - MN van Wyk (RSA), 1 - SK Raina (Ind)

Aus vs Eng: 3 - SR Watson (Aus), 2 - EJG Morgan (Eng), 1 - KP Pietersen (Eng)

Aus vs Eng: 3 - AJ Finch (Aus), 2 - SR Watson (Aus), 1 - MG Johnson (Aus)

WI vs Pak: 3 - D Bishoo (WI), 2 - LMP Simmons (WI), 1 - R Rampaul (WI)

WI vs Ind: 3 - DJG Sammy (WI), 2 - CD Barnwell (WI), 1 - SD Badrinath (Ind)

Eng vs SL: 3 - DPMD Jayawardene (SL), 2 - SL Malinga (SL), 1 - KP Pietersen (Eng)

SL vs Aus: 3 - TM Dilshan (SL), 2 - DA Warner (Aus), 1- MDK Perera (SL)

SL vs Aus: 3 - BAW Mendis (SL), 2 - DPMD Jayawardene (SL), 1 - SR Watson (Aus)

Eng vs Ind: 3 - JW Dernbach (Eng), 2 - AM Rahane (Ind), 1 - EJG Morgan (Eng)

Zim vs Pak: 3 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pak), 2 - CK Coventry (Zim), 1 - Asad Shafiq (Pak)

Zim vs Pak: 3 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pak), 2 - KM Jarvis (Zim), 1 - T Taibu (Zim)

Eng vs WI: 3 - RS Bopara (Eng), 2 - AD Hales (Eng), 1 - C Kieswetter (Eng)

Eng vs WI: 3 - GE Mathurin (WI), 2 - BA Stokes (Eng), 1 - MN Samuels (WI)

WI vs Aus: 3 - SR Watson (Aus), 2 - DT Christian (Aus), 1 - KA Pollard (WI)

WI vs Aus: 3 - DR Smith (WI), 2 - DA Warner (Aus), 1 - MN Samuels (WI)

Eng vs Pak: 3 - GP Swann (Eng), 2 - Umar Gul (Pak), 1 - KP Pietersen (Eng)

Eng vs Pak: 3 - JM Bairstow (Eng), 2 - ST Finn (Eng), 1 - Shahid Afridi (Pak)

Eng vs Pak: 3 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak), 2 - KP Pietersen (Eng), 1 - JW Dernbach (Eng)

NZ vs RSA: 3 - MJ Guptill (NZ), 2 - TG Southee (NZ), 1 - JL Ontong (RSA)

NZ vs RSA: 3 - RE Levi (RSA), 2 - MJ Guptill (NZ), 1 - JEC Franklin (NZ)

NZ vs RSA: 3 - J Botha (RSA), 2 - JD Ryder (NZ), 1 - Hashim Amla (RSA)

NZ vs Zim: 3 - MJ Guptill (NZ), 2 - H Masakadza (Zim), 1 - KS Williamson (NZ)

NZ vs Zim: 3 - BRM Taylor (Zim), 2 - JEC Franklin (NZ), 1 - H Masakadza (Zim)

Aus vs Ind: 3 - MS Wade (Aus), 2 - DJ Hussey (Aus), 1 - DT Christian (Aus)

Aus vs Ind: 3 - P Kumar (Ind), 2 - R Sharma (Ind), 1 - G Gambhir (Ind)

Ban vs Pak: 3 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pak), 2 - Shoaib Malik (Pak), 1 - Nasir Hossain (Ban)

Pak vs SL: 3 - Aizaz Cheema (Pak), 2 - LD Chandimal (SL), 1 - Umar Gul (Pak)

Ind vs Eng: 3 - KP Pietersen (Eng), 2 - ST Finn (Eng), 1 - RS Bopara (Eng)

Zim vs NZ: 3 - BB McCullum (NZ), 2 - BRM Taylor (Zim), 1 - KD Mills (NZ)

Zim vs NZ: 3 - BB McCullum (NZ), 2 - MJ Guptill (NZ), 1 - CJ Chibhabha (Zim)

RSA vs Aus: 3 - SR Watson (Aus), 2 - JP Duminy (RSA), 1 - PJ Cummins (Aus)

RSA vs Aus: 3 - J Theron (RSA), 2 - WD Parnell (RSA), 1 - MR Marsh (Aus)

Ban vs WI: 3 - MN Samuels (WI), 2 - Mushfiqur Rahman (Ban), 1 - Shafiul Islam (Ban)

RSA vs Ind: 3 - CA Ingram (RSA), 2 - JH Kallis (RSA), 1 - G Gambhir (Ind)

SL vs Pak: 3 - NLTC Perera (SL), 2 - Sohail Tanvir (Pak), 1 - HDRL Thirimanne (SL)

SL vs Pak: 3 - Shahid Afridi (Pak), 2 - Mohammad Sami (Pak), 1 - Yasir Arafat (Pak)

Eng vs WI: 3 - AD Hales (Eng), 2 - DR Smith (WI), 1 - RS Bopara (Eng)

NZ vs WI: 3 - CH Gayle (WI), 2 - KA Pollard (WI), 1 - SP Narine (WI)

NZ vs WI: 3 - SP Narine (WI), 2 - CH Gayle (WI), 1 - DJ Bravo (WI)

SL vs Ind: 3 - AB Dinda (Ind), 2 - V Kohli (Ind), 1 - IK Pathan (Ind)

Aus vs Pak: 3 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pak), 2 - Sohail Tanvir (Pak), 1 - Kamran Akmal (Pak)

Aus vs Pak: 3 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak), 2 - Kamran Akmal (Pak), 1 - George Bailey (Aus)

Aus vs Pak: 3 - DA Warner (Aus), 2 - PJ Cummins (Aus), 1 - MA Starc (Aus)

Ind vs NZ: 3 - BB McCullum (NZ), 2 - V Kohli (Ind), 1 - IK Pathan (Ind)

Eng vs RSA: 3 - JH Kallis (RSA), 2 - J Botha (RSA), 1 - J Duminy (RSA)

Eng vs RSA: 3 - C Kieswetter (Eng), 2 - JC Buttler (Eng), 1 - TT Bresnan (Eng)

Winner: Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan) with 13 votes.

Runner up: Shane Watson (Australia) with 12 votes.

Others with lots of votes:

11 votes: JP Duminy (South Africa)

10 votes: MJ Guptill (New Zealand)

9 votes: BRM Taylor (Zimbabwe), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

8 votes: CA Ingram (South Africa), J Botha (South Africa)

7 votes: KP Pietersen (England), DA Warner (Australia)

6 votes: J Theron (South Africa), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Jaques Kallis (South Africa)

Congratulations to Mohammad Hafeez!

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Forget Inaccurate LGICCAwards, Time for My players of the Year

By Adrian Meredith

VICTORIA, Australia (TheSportsNext) September 15, 2012: The LGICCawards were held in Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo on Saturday evening and I found them to be the most inaccurate ones ever. So, I am going to do my own. So here we go: 

One Day Internationals:

Batsman of the year:

Virat Kohli - 1733 runs avg 66.65 strike rate 92.77 against Australia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and England. 21 of the 31 games were away games.

Hashim Amla - 754 runs avg 68.54 strike rate 88.49 against Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. 8 of the 13 games were away games.

Winner:

The winner is: Virat Kohli. Runner up is Hashim Amla.

Comments: Virat Kohli had an amazing year, where at one point he scored 4 centuries in a row, scored at more than a run a ball. Hashim Amla isn't far behind but Amla didn't score quite as quickly and, while Amla had a higher average he didn't play quite as many games. (Note: I agree with the ICC here)

Bowler of the year:

Saeed Ajmal - 47 wickets avg 19.87 economy 4.06 against Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. 11 of the 26 games were away games - but the other 15 were neutral. 10 of the 26 were against Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Hafeez - 25 wickets avg 32.84 and also scored 851 runs avg 31.51

Winner:

Saeed Ajmal

Comments: Saeed Ajmal wasn't far behind either, though he had easier opponents.

Tests:

Batsman of the year:

Hashim Amla - 1049 runs avg 65.56 against Australia, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand - away against England and New Zealand.

Kumar Sangakkara - 1444 runs avg 60.16 against Australia, England, Pakistan and South Africa - away against South Africa

Bowler of the year:

Vernon Philander - 63 wickets avg 15.96 against Australia, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand - away against England and New Zealand. Also scored 211 runs avg 19.18 with a top score of 61.

Saeed Ajmal - 72 wickets avg 24.29 against Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe - away against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The winner is: Vernon Philander. Runner up is Hashim Amla.

Comments:Philander had an amazing start to his test career, making his test debut and immediately taking bucket loads of wickets, against top opposition too - 3 of his opponents in Australia, England and Sri Lanka are in the top 4 in tests, with his own team South Africa the other one. He also had to play away against England, which is probably the toughest away series at the moment - while playing away in New Zealand isn't far behind as far as home ground advantage is concerned. Philander is the fastest ever to 50 wickets and had the best ever start to a test bowling career - moving to 2nd on the test bowling rankings after just one year.

Overall:

Batsman:

Kumar Sangakkara - scored 1444 runs at 60.16 in tests, 1457 at 42.85 SR 76.88 in ODIs and 90 runs at 18.00 SR 132.35 in T20s.

Hashim Amla - scored 1049 runs at 65.56  in tests, 754 at 68.54 SR 88.49 in ODIs and 145 runs at 24.16 SR 133.02 in T20s.

Virat Kohli - scored 627 runs at 52.25 in tests, 1733 at 66.65 SR 92.77 in ODIs and 210 runs at 35.00 SR 135.48 in T20s.

Bowlers:

Vernon Philander - 63 wickets avg 15.96 and scored 211 runs avg 19.18 in tests. Didn't play ODIs or T20s.

Saeed Ajmal - 72 wickets avg 24.29 in tests, 47 wickets avg 19.87 economy 4.06 in ODIs, 17 wickets avg 13.70 economy 5.06 in T20s.

The winner is: Saeed Ajmal. Runner up is Hashim Amla.

Comments: It is a close one between Amla and Ajmal, and both had claims to the title. Certainly, Amla was the outstanding batsman while Ajmal was, overall, the outstanding bowler - as evidenced by his moving up from outside the top 10 to be 3rd in tests, and 1st in both ODIs and T20s on the rankings. Ajmal's record speaks for itself as he was just about unstoppable in all 3 formats consistently in all conditions. Amla was unlucky not to get an award, having been 2nd best behind Philander in tests and 2nd behind Kohli in ODIs, and now is 2nd behind Ajmal overall. Virat Kohli also warrants mention as, while he didn't play many tests, he nonetheless scored very heavily and was probably 3rd overall. But the award ultimately goes to Saeed Ajmal, who is just so consistent in all 3 formats and simply the weight of wickets gives it to him. Amla may have won the award if he hadn't missed so many matches through injury - or if he had done a bit better in T20s.

Overall comments: The fact that my winner, Saeed Ajmal, didn't even make the short list is shameful. The fact that Sangakkara was only the 3rd best test player - behind both Philander and Amla - yet got the award is shameful. The fact that in all three formats Amla was a better batsman than Sangakkara - by miles in ODIs - just highlights how incorrect it was to give the award to Sangakkara. No offence to Sangakkara, who had a decent year - averaging slightly higher than his overall record in tests. Sangakkara is ranked number 1 in tests; but he was ranked 3rd the year before so it wasn't a huge leap. Ajmal, in comparison, leapt up the rankings, meaning that his last year was much better than Sangakkara's.

Any way you look at it, the ICC got this one terribly wrong. Philander was an easy choice for test player of the year, and, while it was close for the overall award, I felt that Saeed Ajmal just pipped Hashim Amla. 3rd best was Virat Kohli - not Sangakkara. Sangakkara was probably 4th, with Philander overall the 5th best.

The only reason I can think to justify giving it to Sangakkara is that he played a lot more matches than the others, scoring more runs overall - though not at as high an average. This is a very silly reason to give him the award though.

The only award I agreed with was Virat Kohli's for ODI player of the year award. But that one was so obvious that they would have been lynched if he didn't get it. Sangakkara should have won the people's choice award - and that is it. He didn't deserve either the test or the overall award.

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Afridi, Ajmal named in ICC ODI Team of the Year

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNext) September 15, 2012: The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Saturday, announced its One Day International Team of the Year which included seven players from Asian countries including Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal.

 

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was included in the team for a record fifth year on the trot while other Asian players included Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga from Sri Lanka and Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir from India.

Other players included England captain Alastair Cook and pacer Steven Finn while Australian skipper Michael Clarke and South African fast bowler Morne Morkel also managed to find a place in the final team.

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Kumar Sangakkara rocks at LG ICC Awards 2012

By Fathima Zanaida

Kumar Sangakkara rocks at LG ICC Awards 2012

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNext) September 15, 2012: Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara enjoyed the night of his lifetime here in Colombo on Saturday when he won in three categories of the LG ICC Awards 2012 but officials of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) boycotted the ceremony on Saeed Ajmal snub.

Star of the night Kumar Sangakkara clinched the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award, the LG People’s Choice Award, as well as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.

Kumar Sangakkara had an exceptional last year in world cricket as the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper and top order batsman amassed 1,444 runs at a rollicking average of 60.16 in 14 Test matches besides hitting 1,457 runs in 37 One Day Internationals hitting three hundreds. He also got hold of 39 catches as well as three stumpings during the period under review.

Talking to reporters here, Kumar Sangakkara, who received the Test Cricketer of the Year award from West Indies legend Brian Lara said, “This is an amazing honour and I’ve seen the people who have won it before me and the nominees too, to be named alongside them is wonderful. I admire them greatly and even more so when I looked up at their records on the screen this evening. It’s great to be amongst them but now to receive this honour this evening, is simply fantastic.”

He stated, “I’m continuing to ensure I am consistent and I need to keep raising the bar each year and keep trying harder and harder to ensure I keep playing good Test cricket. It’s a constant battle but I have the support of a great team that helps me do the best I can.”

Kumar Dharmasena with David Shepherd Trophy 2012

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez and world renowned cricket umpire Aleem Dar, Pakistan’s only two nominees at the ICC Awards 2012 failed to win the awards in their respective categories.

Pakistan’s T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez was nominated for the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award while Aleem Dar, who had been winning the David Shepherd Trophy for the last three years, was nominated in the Umpire of the Year award category.

Daniel Vettori with ICC Spirit of Cricket Award

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award while Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena surprisingly claimed Umpire of the Year award.

Former West Indian legendary batsman Brian Lara and Enid Bakewell were formerly inducted in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the event.

As far as the other award winners are concerned, ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year Award went to Stafanie Taylor of West Indies while Sarah Taylor of England won the ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year Award.

India’s Virat Kohli won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year Award while the ICC T20 Performance of the Year Award went to South Africa’s Richard Levi for his 117 not out against New Zealand.

The ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year Award winner was George Dockrell of Ireland while West Indian off-spinner Sunil Narine won the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year Award.

Enid Bakewell

Alison Mitchell and Sarah-Jane Mee

Asad Rauf with Simon Taufel

Allan Donald

Brian Charles Lara got inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Brian Lara at LG ICC Awards 2012 Red Carpet

Chris Gayle at LG ICC Awards 2012 Red Carpet

Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan at LG ICC Awards 2012

George Dockrell

Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina

Star of the night: Kumar Sangakkara

Mahela Jayawardene with wife Christina

Virat Kohli

Richard Levi

Sunil Narine with ICC Emerging Player of the Year Award

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