Analysis: ICC Awards 2015

Steve Smith has become the fourth Australian cricketer and 11th player overall to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2015. Smith followed the footsteps of Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007), Mitchell Johnson (2009 and 2014) and Michael Clarke (2013) to lift the prestigious award. 1. Steve Smith- ICC Test Cricketer, ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy): Steve Smith. (© Getty Images) 2015 has been a good year for Steve Smith; first lifting the World Cup and then earning the captain’s armband. In 19 ODI games this year, Smith scalped 805 runs at an average of 53.66, at a strike rate of 86.09. In whites, he represented the baggy green 12 times, notching up 1270 runs at an average of 63.50. Overall Smith has plundered 7 centuries and 9 fifties this year. As captain, he led the brigade to memorable series wins this year and it’s fitting to see him win both the awards. During the voting period, which ran from 18 September 2014 to 13 September 2015, the 26-year-old from New South Wales finished as the leading run-scorer in Tests with 1,734 runs in 25 innings of 13 matches at an average of 82.57. This included seven centuries and six half-centuries. In 26 One-Day Internationals, Smith scored 1,249 runs at an average of just under 60 with four centuries and eight half-centuries. He was a member of the Australia side which won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. 2. AB de Villiers (South Africa)- ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year: (Photo Source: Associated Press) The cricket fans marked their calendar with some breathtaking memories, all thanks to his larger than life performances. He started the year with a record-breaking century against West Indies and ended his ODI spark with a sublime 119 in Mumbai. In 20 ODI matches, AB has notched up 1193 runs at an average of 79.53, with five centuries and five fifties. A staggering strike rate of 137.91 clearly makes him the most entertaining one in the last 12 months. 3. ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year– Meg Lanning (Australia) Meg Lanning. (Photo Source: Meg Lanning Twitter Handle) The Singapore-born cricketer has been impressive this year for Australia. She bagged the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the year, courtesy a brilliant show. She has played 39 ODIs since making her debut, notching up 1747 runs at an average of 47.21. She has also registered 6 centuries and 8 fifties to mark her stature. 4. ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year– Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies bats of the West Indies bat during game one of the women’s One Day International series between Australia and the West Indies at Hurstville Oval on November 11, 2014, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) She was the ODI cricketer of the year in 2012 and Women’s cricketer of the year in 2011. Stafanie Taylor has kept the trend by placing her hands on the T20I Cricketer of the year 2015. In 65 T20’s, Taylor has notched up 1874 runs at an average of 36.03 with 16 fifties. She bent her back to good effect, scalping 56 wickets at an average of 16.37. Clearly she stole the show when it mattered. 5. ICC T20I Performance of the Year– Faf du Plessis (South Africa): (Photo Source: BCCI) South African skipper Faf du Plessis’ 46-ball century against West Indies has been named the performance of the year. His sublime knock led South Africa to a total of 231 for seven after being sent into bat in the second Twenty20 international against the West Indies at the Wanderers on Sunday. In ideal batting conditions, du Plessis hammered 119 off 56 balls before he was caught in the deep off the last ball of the 19th over. It was South Africa’s highest individual score in a Twenty20 international. The tempo of the innings was set when he and David Miller (47) put on 103 off 49 balls for the third wicket. Du Plessis hit five sixes and 11 fours to register one of the best knocks of 2015. 6. ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year– Josh Hazlewood (Australia) Josh Hazlewood. (© Getty Images) 24-year-old Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was on a rampage this season. He played 11 Test matches and scalped 51 wickets at an average of 21.60. He has two fifers to his credit. Hazlewood was instrumental in Australia nailing New Zealand at home and hence picks up the emerging cricketer of the year award. 7. ICC Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year– Khurram Khan (UAE) Khurram Khan. (Photo Source: ICC) Former UAE captain Khurram Khan has been named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year. Khurram, 44, ended 2015 as the leading run-scorer among Associate and Affiliate nations, scoring 425 runs in nine one-day matches. The batsman and his runs were key to leading the UAE to the 2015 Cricket World Cup, the nation’s first appearance since 1996. 8. ICC Spirit of Cricket Award– Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): (© Getty Images) The New Zealand skipper was prolific this year and made tons of runs with the bat. His good spirit has been recognized by the ICC. It was clearly evident throughout the World Cup earlier this year, and in particular in the last-gasp semi-final win over South Africa when he invited Proteas counterpart AB de Villiers and his side to the New Zealand dressing room after the match. 9. ICC Umpire of the Year (David Shepherd Trophy)– Richard Kettleborough (Photo Source: AFP) Richard Kettleborough completed a hat-trick and bagged the umpire of the year award. He has been outstanding throughout the year and ICC acknowledged him with the honour.

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Analysis: ICC Awards 2015

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