England captain Joe Root, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Pakistani duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan were shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award on Friday for their stellar performances in a variety of formats. The award will be presented in 2021 to the best player in international men’s cricket (Tests, ODIs and T20Is). The winner, who will win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, will be announced on January 24.
Root enjoyed a year that will go down in the history books, scoring 1,855 runs in 18 caps averaging 58.37 in six centuries. However, he endured disappointment as a captain with England that Ashes endured humiliation.
His year started with a 228 marathon run against Sri Lanka in Galle and he has only grown stronger.
He would continue his exploits against Sri Lanka with a memorable knock in Chennai, a brilliant 218 against India in the blistering heat against a spin attack of the highest caliber.
Root continued his superb form against India in the Test series return leg at home, racking up 564 runs in four games with three centuries to his name.
His performance also helped him reach the top of the ICC Test Player Rankings for batting, where he would eventually be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne.
Despite failing to convert his starts into big scores, Root remained England’s leading hitter against Australia in the first three Ashes Tests.
Compared to Root, Williamson’s 693 runs in 16 internationals averaging 43.31 in one century was a modest total, but the admirable Kiwi cannot be judged solely by the runs he scored.
It was also his influential leadership that helped the Blackcaps reach unprecedented heights over the course of the year. Nothing is more important than the final of the ICC World Test Championship against India in Southampton.
Williamson also played a vital role in that game with the bat, scoring a vital 49 in the first innings against a high-quality bowling unit in conditions that assisted the Sailors. He followed it up with a crucial 52 that wasn’t out in the chase of 139, taking his side home before raising the mace.
His leadership would once again be vital at the T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, with his tactical knowledge helping New Zealand reach the final.
Pakistani wicketkeeper batter Rizwan had an astonishing year with 1,915 runs in 44 internationals averaging 56.32 over two centuries. He also had 56 sacks behind the wickets.
Rizwan reigned supreme in 2021 when it came to the game’s shortest format. With a total of 1,326 runs in just 29 games, Rizwan struck with an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89.
Aside from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps and played a key role in the lead up to Pakistan’s semi-finals at the T20 World Cup.
Rizwan also improved his game in Test cricket, scoring 455 runs in nine matches at an average of 45.50.
Swing, Zoom, Pure Speed and Thrilling Yorkers — Shaheen Afridi gave it all in 2021 with 78 wickets in 36 internationals at a 22.20 average. He had his best bowling figures of 6/51. The tall Pakistani fast bowler was on fire throughout 2021, beating out some of the best hitters in all three formats of the game. In particular, he had a memorable year in Tests and T20Is, reaching his all-time high at the T20 World Cup in the UAE where he impressed everyone with his sheer speed and skills.
promoted
He would scalp seven wickets in six matches during the tournament leading up to Pakistan’s semi-finals. He reigned the shortest format during the calendar year, scalping 23 wickets in 21 matches and his death bowling improved by leaps and bounds.
He scalped 47 wickets in nine Tests with a staggering average of 17.06. PTI PDS PDS AH AH
Topics mentioned in this article