Sangakkara named ICC cricketer of the year

Updated September 17, 2012 10:46:34

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara was named ICC cricketer of the year and Test player of the year at the governing body's annual awards ceremony in Colombo.

The 34-year-old edged out Australia's Michael Clarke and South African duo Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander to claim the top award.

India's Virat Kohli took the one-day player of the year honour and West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine was named emerging cricketer of the year.

Sangakkara scored 1,444 runs in 14 Test matches between August 2011 and August 2012 at an average of 60.16, with five centuries and five half-centuries.

His form bettered that of Clarke's, who scored 1,355 runs at 58.91 in 14 Tests during the same period, including a knock of 329 not out against India in January.

Sangakkara also amassed 1,457 runs at 42.85 from 37 one-day internationals, during which he picked up 42 dismissals as his country's wicketkeeper.

"This is an amazing honour," said Sangakkara, who also won the people's choice award.

"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."

India's Kohli was named one-day cricketer of the year for his 1,733 limited-overs runs at an average of 66.65.

"I think I have tried to keep things as simple as possible and it's worked for me on the field," he said.

"This year has been a learning curve along the way from the seniors in the team. It's been an all-round effort and I'm very happy to have won this award."

Narine, 24, from Trinidad, claimed 12 wickets at 31.50 from three Test matches for the West Indies.

South African batsman Richard Levi won the international Twenty20 performance of the year award for his 51-ball 117 not out against New Zealand in Hamilton in February.

The awards were slightly overshadowed by Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal not being nominated for an individual award despite his heroics over the last 12 months.

Pakistan ultimately decided not to boycott the ceremony.

Reuters/ABC

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, australia

First posted September 17, 2012 10:46:34

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Clarke named in one-day team of the year

Updated September 15, 2012 23:22:00

Michael Clarke was the only Australian named in the ICC one-day team of the year, for which India's MS Dhoni was named as captain for the second consecutive year.

Clarke, who also made the ICC Test team of the year, scored 727 runs over the last 12 months in one-day internationals at an average of 42.76 including a hundred against Sri Lanka in March.

Shane Watson was selected as the 12th man despite missing a number of the Australian summer's one-day matches due to injury,

Dhoni, in the team for a fifth year in succession, was joined by compatriots Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir in the XI.

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara and fast bowler Lasith Malinga made the side, as did Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.

The world's number one one-day international side England is represented by captain Alastair Cook and paceman Steven Finn, with Morne Morkel the only selection from second-place South Africa.

"This team, along with the test team of the year was extremely difficult to decide upon, but we feel the side has strength to bat well down the order while also having a good variety for any type of conditions when it comes to its bowling attack," former West Indies captain and chairman of the ICC Awards selection panel Clive Lloyd said.

"With six countries represented and a vast expanse of talent the team would be a challenge to beat for any number of opposition sides."

The other awards will be announced at the ICC awards ceremony in Colombo on Sunday (AEST).

ICC one-day team of the Year (in batting order): Gautam Gambhir (India), Alastair Cook (England), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Virat Kohli (India), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India, wicketkeeper/captain), Michael Clarke (Australia), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Morne Morkel (South Africa), Steven Finn (England), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan). 12th Man: Shane Watson (Australia).

ABC/AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, onedayseries, australia, sri-lanka

First posted September 15, 2012 20:39:25

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Smith and Johnson named in one-day squad

Updated May 10, 2012 15:16:09

All-rounder Steve Smith and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson have been recalled to Australia's one-day squad for the tour of the British Isles in June and July.

Smith, 22, last played for Australia in a one-day international against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in October last year.

Smith has played 29 one-day matches for Australia, scoring 343 runs with the bat at an average of 22.86, and taken 22 wickets for 755 runs at an average of 34.31.

He scored 492 runs for NSW in the Sheffield Shield last season, plus 189 runs in five matches in domestic one-dayers. He also led NSW to victory in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

National selector John Inverarity said Smith had been chosen for his late season form for NSW, saying the 22-year-old had been picked as a back-up all-rounder.

"I see Steve Smith primarily as a batsman but he needs to improve, I'm keen to see him improve his leg spin, he is electrifying in the field," Inverarity said.

"We need bowlers to bat but we need batsman who can bowl a bit - Steve and Mark Waugh gave so much to the side with their bowling."

Another picked to make a return to international cricket is Western Australian paceman Johnson, 30, who last played for Australia against South Africa in the Johannesburg Test last November.

Johnson injured his toe in the South African series, ruling him out of the Australian summer, but his return of only three wickets at a cost of 255 runs in the series had put his spot in doubt.

Inverarity said Johnson was a "fine bowler", who he had recently seen bowl in Perth.

Johnson is in contention for the Australian World Twenty20 squad to be named in August, and selectors believe he needs quality competitive cricket before then.

Inverarity said the one-day squad had been picked with the 2013 Ashes against England in mind.

Australia will only have one wicket-keeper for the British Isles tour in Victorian Matthew Wade, while Tasmanian Tim Paine - who is returning from injury - will put on the gloves for Australia A's tour of England in July and August.

Inverarity said New South Wales keeper Brad Haddin will have "all the time he needs" to return after personal issues forced him to withdraw from Australia's recent Test tour of the West Indies.

Dropped from the one-day squad were Queensland's Peter Forrest, New South Welshmen Mitchell Starc and Peter Nevill and South Australians Dan Christian and Nathan Lyon.

Forrest, Starc and Nevill will go on the Australia A tour.

Blues pair Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been left out of both squads. Inverarity said their performances during the summer were unsatisfactory but their form during the English county cricket competition will be monitored.

Smith, Johnson, George Bailey and Patrick Cummins have been named in both squads. Cummins has recovered from a heel injury.

Australia One-day squad:

Michael Clarke (C) (NSW)
Shane Watson (VC) (NSW)
George Bailey (TAS)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Xavier Doherty (TAS)
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS)
Mike Hussey (WA)
David Hussey (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Brett Lee (NSW)
Clint McKay (VIC)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Matthew Wade (VIC)
David Warner (NSW)

Australia A squad:
Ed Cowan (C) TAS
Peter Forrest (VC) (QLD)
George Bailey (TAS)
Jackson Bird (TAS)
Joe Burns (QLD)
Tom Cooper (SA)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Ben Cutting (QLD)
Liam Davis (WA)
Jon Holland (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Michael Klinger (SA)
Nathan Lyons (SA)
Tim Paine (TAS)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Mitchell Starc (NSW)

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 14:16:55

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MacGill named for Sixers clash

Updated December 15, 2011 17:29:20

Veteran trio Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill will take centre stage once more in the Big Bash League's season-opening clash on Friday night.

Lee, 35, and MacGill, 40, will turn out for the Sydney Sixers while Hayden, 40, will be headlining for the visiting Brisbane Heat in the Twenty20 clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hayden will be joined by some of the game's biggest hitters, with New Zealand's Brendon McCullum, Test hopeful Dan Christian and skipper James Hopes all turning out for the Heat.

Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will lead a strong Sixers line-up that includes West Indies import Dwayne Bravo and young guns Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc.

Lee says he has fully recovered from appendicitis and is ready to do some damage after a long wait on the sidelines.

"I've been ready for two months, so (Friday) night can't come soon enough," he told reporters on Thursday.

"I'm really excited about it - I've done a lot of work and a lot of preparation in the nets. I had a really good hit-out (on Wednesday).

"I bowled for 40 minutes in the nets and bowled with some decent pace."

Also on show for the Sixers is Tasmania's opening batsman Ed Cowan, who is putting pressure on out-of-form Test opener Phil Hughes ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, brisbane-4000, qld, nsw, australia

First posted December 15, 2011 17:10:06

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Christian named in Australian squad

Updated December 05, 2011 11:43:29

All-rounder Dan Christian has replaced injured paceman Ben Cutting in the only change to the Australian squad announced for the second Test against New Zealand in Hobart.

South Australian Christian makes the 12 in place of Queensland's Cutting, who sustained a side strain during the Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria in Melbourne.

Cutting was named 12th man for the first Test in Brisbane and was then released to play in the Shield.

Patrick Cummins (heel), Shane Watson (hamstring), Shaun Marsh (back) and Ryan Harris (hip) all remain injured and unavailable for selection, while Mitchell Johnson has undergone toe surgery and is sidelined for up to five months.

Australia is refusing to rush the return of youngster Cummins, meaning it is likely to go in with the same attack which tore apart the Black Caps in a nine-wicket win at the Gabba.

However chairman of selectors John Inverarity said Christian's selection gives Australian Michael Clarke the opportunity to provide better balance to the team, after he was forced to use part-time bowler Mike Hussey at the Gabba in the absence of Watson.

Christian, who has Aboriginal heritage, has played three Twenty20s for Australia and has a first-class batting average of 30 as well as 89 wickets in 33 matches.

"It is disappointing for Ben that he will be sidelined for some weeks with a side strain, but this provides an opportunity for Daniel who has been performing well as an all-rounder for South Australia," Inverarity said.

"The balance of a team is always enhanced by the presence of an energetic all-rounder who is in good form."

Debutant James Pattinson revelled in Cummins' absence at the Gabba, earning man-of-the-match honours with a 5 for 27 which saw the Black Caps routed for 150 in their second dig.

"James Pattinson's performance on debut will provide a great boost not only [to] the team as a whole but to those who are new to the team in particular," Inverarity said.

Marsh has been given extra time to overcome his back strain, meaning under-pressure opener Phil Hughes earns a reprieve.

Hughes endured a poor first Test with scores of 10 and 7 and his tendency to be dismissed behind the wicket will be firmly under the spotlight when the second Test begins on Friday.

Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Cummins, Watson and Marsh are all on track to return for the four-match series against India, which begins with the traditional Boxing Day Test.

Australia: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Dan Christian.

Tags: sport, cricket, hobart-7000, tas, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 05, 2011 10:14:15

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Cutting misses out as three debutants named

Updated December 01, 2011 10:41:33

Mitchell Starc, David Warner and James Pattinson will make their Test debuts for Australia against New Zealand, but Queensland's Ben Cutting will miss out in Brisbane.

The new fast bowlers will feature immediately after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.

The three debutants bring the number of new Baggy Greens handed out in 2011 to nine, with Mitchell Clarke set to captain the Australian Test side for the first time on home soil in Mickey Arthur's first game as coach.

Peter Siddle will spearhead the Australian pace attack with Starc replacing the injured Mitchell Johnson in a like-for-like left-arm seamer replacement.

Nathan Lyon will retain his place in the team as the spinning option.

Debutant Warner also caps a remarkable rise to the Australian Test side. The Twenty20 bludgeon comes in for injured all-rounder Shane Watson and will open the batting alongside Phil Hughes.

Conditions at The Gabba are muggy and overcast, with showers and thunderstorms forecast for later in the afternoon. Dry conditions are predicted for day two and three.

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc.

New Zealand squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Daniel Vettori, Reece Young, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Chris Martin.

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, new-zealand

First posted December 01, 2011 10:06:43

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Dizzy named Australia A assistant

Updated June 3, 2011 16:35:00

Former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie has been appointed an assistant coach for Australia A's tour of Zimbabwe this month, Cricket Australia said.

Gillespie, who captured 259 Test wickets for Australia in a 10-year career, will support head coach Troy Cooley on the month-long tour, which includes one-day and four-day matches.

Gillespie, 36, joins former Test players Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann and Craig McDermott in national and state level coaching roles.

"CA feels this A tour presents a good opportunity to further enhance Jason's elite coaching experience," CA general manager Michael Brown said.

"Jason has recently coached in Zimbabwe and understands the conditions we'll face there.

"Many of the young up-and-coming players he'll be working with followed his successful international career as schoolboys."

Gillespie spent last southern hemisphere summer as head coach of the MidWest Rhinos in Zimbabwe's first-class competition and was recently the bowling coach for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

"This Australia A tour allows me to further dip my toe into the elite coaching system, to work with some of the best young cricket talent in Australia and to learn from experienced bowling coaches like Troy Cooley," Gillespie said.

Australia A will play a one-day tri-series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa A, before finishing with two four-day matches against Zimbabwe.

-AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, sa

First posted June 3, 2011 14:37:00

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Tendulkar named Wisden Cricketer of Year

Posted April 14, 2011 07:49:00

Sachin Tendulkar has been named Wisden's Cricketer of the Year for 2010, crowning a golden month for "the little master" which also saw him play a starring role in India's World Cup triumph.

Tendulkar's honour from the cricketing bible means India has won the accolade three years running following the back-to-back awards for Virender Sehwag in each of the previous two years.

It follows another prolific run-scoring year for the 37-year-old Tendulkar, who rattled off more than 1,500 Test runs including seven Test hundreds, including a record 50th overall, in 2010.

Tendulkar is also on the brink of hitting 100 international centuries, currently on 99.

He also became the first player to hit a double-century in a one-day international.

"Wisden acknowledges his greatness by naming him as the leading cricketer in the world for 2010," Tendulkar's citation in Wisden read.

Tendulkar's batting also saw him earn a spot in Wisden's 2010 Test XI, along with Sehwag and Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal.

Other players to feature in the world XI were England off-spinner Graeme Swann and fast bowler James Anderson.

However for the first time, no Australian was included in the all-star line-up.

-AFP

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