Scots skipper Coetzer lands ICC award as top non-test nation player
● ICC winner hails Associate progress ● England’s Ben Stokes takes big prize
Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer has landed a top award for his performances during the 2019 season.
The 35-year-old, who was awarded an MBE for services to cricket in the 2019 Birthday Honours, guided Scotland to the Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and has now been named the Associate Cricketer of the Year by an International Cricket Council (ICC) panel comprising journalists and broadcasters.
The Aberdeen-born player, who made his Scotland debut in a one-day international in 2003, has scored 5,513 runs in 169 List A cricket matches, with ten centuries and 34 halfcenturies.
Speaking about the award, Coetzer admitted he was surprised to have won the prize given the competition.
He said: “It’s a huge honour to even be considered for the 2019 Associate Player of the Year award. I certainly didn’t expect to win it with many strong performers throughout the year from various countries.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way from family, friends, supporters, Cricket Scotland staff and all of my team-mates who keep me going.”
Coetzer hailed the rise of the Associate countries in the game, adding: “Within Associate countries there is a strong pool of talent and many players continually pushing and deserving of this award, which is the real winner for me.
“The development of Associate teams and the ability of players involved is clearly is on the rise and so will the standards expected to win this award. I have no doubt in the years to come that players will be pushing the Associate bar to new heights in 2020 and onwards. Well done to all for the hard work put in to help Associate cricket reach where it is today.”
A statement from Cricket Scotland read: “Cricket Scotland congratulates Kyle on another great achievement to add to his illustrious playing career for Scotland.”
Scotland colleague Calum
Macleod added: “Congrats Kyle, well deserved recognition, been a role model on and off the field for years for everyone at Cricket Scotland.”
England’s Ben Stokes was named overall men’s cricketer of the year.
His performances underpinned England’s first World Cup win on home soil, not least his never-say-die innings in the dramatic Lord’s final. He also scored an unforgettable match-winning 135 not out in the Ashes Test at Headingley .
Accepting the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy,
Stokes said: “The past 12 months have been incredible for England cricket and to lift the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time was our greatest achievement.
“This award is testament to my team-mates and the support staff that have been there every step of the way. Fundamentally, without the support of these individuals, we would never achieved our objective of lifting a major trophy.
“The last 12 months have been the best in my career.”
In the voting period, Stokes scored 719 runs and took 12 wickets in 20 one-day internationals as well 821 runs and 22 wickets in 11 Tests. There were also several memorable catches, including a one-handed leaping effort in the World Cup against South Africa.
The 28-year-old was also named in both ICC teams of the year.
Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins was named Test player of the year for his haul of 59 wickets – 14 more than his nearest rival – and prolific batsman Marnus Labuschagne won emerging player of the year.
He flourished after becoming Test cricket’s first ever concussion substitute when Jofra Archer floored Steve Smith at Lord’s, averaging 64.94.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be considered the best player of last year and one which was certainly unexpected,” said Cummins. “The highlight was certainly being able to retain the Ashes which was a great reward for the hard work that went into that tour.”
India opener Rohit Sharma was ODI player of the year, having scored seven centuries including five at the World Cup. England’s Richard Illingworth was top umpire and Deepak Chahar’s spell of six for seven for India against Bangladesh was named best Twenty20 performance.
India captain Virat Kohli was honoured in the Spirit of Cricket category, having encouraged fans at The Oval to clap Australian pair Steve Smith and David Warner when they were being booed over their role in the sandpaper scandal.
“It’s a huge honour to even be considered for the award. I certainly didn’t expect to win it with many strong performers throughout the year from various countries”
KYLE COETZER