Amla name goes up in lights on awards night

HASHIM Amla joined Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis and rose above Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Graeme Smith at Cricket SA’s awards banquet in Johannesburg last night.

Initiatives like last night’s aren’t often worth the marketing proposals they are written on, but in this case Amla’s worth to the national cause was underlined when he was named Cricketer of the Year for the second time. Only Ntini and Kallis have earned the accolade twice, while Pollock, Steyn and Smith have done so once each since the awards were instituted in 2004.

“The greatest quality he brings to the game is his attitude and humility,” said Lorgat. “This transcends all his statistics and we are very lucky to have such a wonderful role model.”

De Villiers was also the SA Players’ Player of the Year, and Steyn scooped the T20 International Player prize.

Geoff Toyana, who ended the Lions’ dry run of five seasons when he took them to the franchise T20 title last season, was named franchise Coach of the Year. His team won the Fair Play award.

Award winners: International:

Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla

Test Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla; ODI Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers; T20 International Cricketer of the Year: Dale Steyn; Players’ Player of the Year: AB de Villiers; Fans’ Player of the Year: Hashim Amla; So Good Award: Hashim Amla (311* v England, the Oval); Delivery of the Year: Jacques Kallis (dismissed Ricky Ponting on first day of second Test against Australia, Adelaide); SA Newcomer of the Year: Kyle Abbott

 Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Marizanne Kapp

Domestic: Professional First-Class Cricketer of the Season: Johann Louw (Cobras); One-Day Cup Cricketer of the Season: Richard Levi (Cobras); T20 Player of the Season: Quinton de Kock (Lions); Coach of the Year: Geoffrey Toyana (Lions); Players’ Player of the Year: Kyle Abbott (Dolphins); Fair Play Award: Lions; Most Valuable Player: Roelof van der Merwe (Titans); Newcomer of the Year: Ayabulela Gqamane (Warriors)