Stokes named player of year
DUBAI: Ben Stokes was named ICC player of the year yesterday after a redhot 12 months during which the allrounder helped England to a maiden 50overs World Cup crown.
Stokes smashed an unbeaten 84 in a heartstopping World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s, which ended in a tie before the home side claimed the title on boundary countback.
The 28yearold also hit 135 not out to secure an astonishing victory for England in the third Ashes test against Australia at Headingley.
‘‘The last 12 months have been the best in my career, and I believe what we attained will be the catalyst to achieve further success over the next few years,’’ Stokes said.
Australia quick Pat Cummins received the test player of the year award.
‘‘It’s a tremendous honour to be considered the best player of last year and one which was certainly unexpected,’’ said
Cummins, who finished the year as the topranked test bowler, said.
India opener
Rohit Sharma was awarded oneday international player of the year after smashing seven centuries, five of them in the World Cup, in the calendar year.
Compatriot Deepak Chahar’s six wickets for seven runs in a 20overs match against Bangladesh, the best bowling figures in that format, was adjudged the T20 performance of the year.
Australian batsman Marcus Labuschagne won the emerging player award while India captain Virat Kohli was named captain of both the ICC test and oneday teams of the year. Australia sent an ominous warning to world cricket after David Warner and Aaron Finch’s obliteration of India delivered a 10wicket win and the country’s biggest oneday international victory over the home side.
Warner and Finch both scored unbeaten centuries in yesterday’s flogging in the Mumbai series opener, as the touring team chased down the target of 256 with 12.2 overs to spare.
Warner’s 128 from 112 balls and Finch’s 110 off 107 marked just the fifth time in history both Australian openers had scored centuries in the same game.
The pair’s unbeaten 258run stand was also the biggest for any ODI wicket against India, and the highest unbeaten stand by Australia against any team.
The result also kept Australia’s unbeaten summer alive, after it cruised through six twenty20s and five tests at home.