Rising Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara bagged the ‘Emerging Cricketer of the Year Trophy as India had to be content with just two winners in the ICC annual awards announced on Friday in which Australian captain Michael Clarke clinched the top honours.
“Australia captain Michael Clarke was today announced as the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and was also named as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year,” the ICC said in a statement.
The announcement was made ahead of the broadcast of the awards TV show on Saturday in most countries across the globe.
“The show is hosted by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting who won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2006 and 2007, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2006 and was appointed captain of ICC’s ODI Team of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2010,” the ICC stated.
Clarke steals the show
Clarke was earlier named in the ICC Test and ODI Teams of the Year in Mumbai on December 3. In the same event, India captain M.S. Dhoni was revealed as the LG People’s Choice award winner.
Clarke has been joined on the winners’ list by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, and Pujara, who claimed his first-ever ICC award.
Pujara became the second fastest Indian to get to 1000 Test runs, during the course of his double hundred against Australia in March at Hyderabad, where he put on a 370-run record second wicket partnership with Murali Vijay.
The 25-year-old Pujara has 1310 runs in 15 Tests at an average of 65.50.
“Also joining Pujara on the winners’ list for the first time are New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who won the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award, Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul, whose five for six against South Africa won him the ICC T20I Performance of the Year award, Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien, who won the Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award, and Richard Kettleborough of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year.”
England’s Sarah Taylor clinched the ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardena won his second ICC Spirit of Cricket award, this time for walking without waiting for an umpire’s decision when batting on 91 against New Zealand in Galle in November 2012.
Our correspondent from Johannesburg reports:
Cheteshwar Pujara, who won the ‘ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year’ award, said that it is a small step, and more needs to be achieved. Reacting to the news, Pujara said: “I believe winning isn’t everything, but the desire to win is. This is a small step towards success, but I wish to continue to work harder and live up and serve the nation.”
