DALE Steyn has joined an exclusive club by being named “Leading Cricketer in the World” for last year in the 2014 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, which was published yesterday.
Jacques Kallis, who earned the award for his exploits in 2007, is the only other South African to be honoured in this way.
Steyn is the 11th winner of the award, which was inaugurated in the Almanack in 2004. The first recipient was Australian Ricky Ponting. India’s Virender Sehwag is the only player to have won it twice, for his performances in 2008 and 2009.
In 2013, Steyn took 51 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 17.66 and claimed 27 at 15.85 in 13 one-day internationals.
“Most remarkable, perhaps, for a man of his pace, was his meanness: an economy-rate of 3.65 was comfortably the lowest among bowlers to have sent down 100 one- day international overs in 2013,” Wisden editor Lawrence Booth wrote in Steyn’s citation. “Fast, penetrative and parsimonious – it was some combination.
“He shows no signs of slowing down or losing his enthusiasm. ‘I enjoy taking wickets more than most people can understand,’ he says. ‘I’m addicted to that feeling. I live in the moment, but I hope there are many more years of it to come’.”
Steyn was a Wisden “Cricketer of the Year” in the 2013 edition.
This year, the players recognised in this way are England captain Charlotte Edwards – only the second woman on a list that was started in 1889 – Shikhar Dhawan of India, Australians Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers, and England’s Joe Root.
Australia paceman Harris and opening batsman Rogers have been rewarded for their performances in the two recent Ashes series by being included as two of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.
They were honoured by the annual publication, often referred to as the ‘bible of cricket’, along with England batsman Root, India’s Dhawan and Edwards.
The five Cricketers of the Year have been selected since 1889 by Wisden’s editor primarily on their performances in the previous English season. That would in part explain the absence of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who did not take part in the first Ashes series in England but played a decisive role in the second.
Harris was the leading wicket-taker across the two series played mostly last year, the first won by England 3-0 at home before Australia crushed their rivals 5-0 in the return.
Rogers, recalled five years after his single previous Test, scored 830 runs in the 10 Tests against England.
Dhawan was named player of the series in last year’s limited-overs Champions Trophy tournament, won by India, and scored 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut at Mohali.
Root’s selection was based on two innings, his maiden century against New Zealand at Headingley in May and the 180 he scored against Australia in July, which made him the youngest England batsman to reach three figures at Lord’s.
Edwards led England to back-to-back Ashes victories within six months.
A focus of this year’s Wisden, the 151st, is the hostile takeover of the international game by the big three – India, England and Australia.
“Divide and rule at the ICC : The great carve-up of world cricket,” is the headline on an essay by the notable Australian cricket writer, Gideon Haigh. — Additional reporting by Reuters
‘Hey, look at me I am the world’s best’
Jacques Kallis, who earned the award for his exploits in 2007, is the only other South African to be honoured in this way.
Steyn is the 11th winner of the award, which was inaugurated in the Almanack in 2004. The first recipient was Australian Ricky Ponting. India’s Virender Sehwag is the only player to have won it twice, for his performances in 2008 and 2009.
In 2013, Steyn took 51 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 17.66 and claimed 27 at 15.85 in 13 one-day internationals.
“Most remarkable, perhaps, for a man of his pace, was his meanness: an economy-rate of 3.65 was comfortably the lowest among bowlers to have sent down 100 one- day international overs in 2013,” Wisden editor Lawrence Booth wrote in Steyn’s citation. “Fast, penetrative and parsimonious – it was some combination.
“He shows no signs of slowing down or losing his enthusiasm. ‘I enjoy taking wickets more than most people can understand,’ he says. ‘I’m addicted to that feeling. I live in the moment, but I hope there are many more years of it to come’.”
Steyn was a Wisden “Cricketer of the Year” in the 2013 edition.
This year, the players recognised in this way are England captain Charlotte Edwards – only the second woman on a list that was started in 1889 – Shikhar Dhawan of India, Australians Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers, and England’s Joe Root.
Australia paceman Harris and opening batsman Rogers have been rewarded for their performances in the two recent Ashes series by being included as two of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.
They were honoured by the annual publication, often referred to as the ‘bible of cricket’, along with England batsman Root, India’s Dhawan and Edwards.
The five Cricketers of the Year have been selected since 1889 by Wisden’s editor primarily on their performances in the previous English season. That would in part explain the absence of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who did not take part in the first Ashes series in England but played a decisive role in the second.
Harris was the leading wicket-taker across the two series played mostly last year, the first won by England 3-0 at home before Australia crushed their rivals 5-0 in the return.
Rogers, recalled five years after his single previous Test, scored 830 runs in the 10 Tests against England.
Dhawan was named player of the series in last year’s limited-overs Champions Trophy tournament, won by India, and scored 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut at Mohali.
Root’s selection was based on two innings, his maiden century against New Zealand at Headingley in May and the 180 he scored against Australia in July, which made him the youngest England batsman to reach three figures at Lord’s.
Edwards led England to back-to-back Ashes victories within six months.
A focus of this year’s Wisden, the 151st, is the hostile takeover of the international game by the big three – India, England and Australia.
“Divide and rule at the ICC : The great carve-up of world cricket,” is the headline on an essay by the notable Australian cricket writer, Gideon Haigh. — Additional reporting by Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos