GCW Awards: Five Cricketers of 2008
Inspired by this years choice of the Wisden 5 Cricketers of the Year, I have decided to institute my own alternative awards. Based loosely around the same selection criteria as that of Wisden, i.e. with a focus on the English summer, though not exclusively, these are the cricketers I feel have had a big impact on cricket in 2008, either individually or as a contribution to team success.
AB de Villiers
With Australia wobbling, South Africa were the form team in tests in 2008, and AB de Villiers one of their form players. He started the year with a test average of 36, hardly world beating, yet added 1061 runs, average 58.94, with four centuries. He began with 103 not out against West Indies at Durban, and followed with a match-winning 217 not out against India at Ahmedabad. An innings of 174 at Headingley did much to set up a ten wicket victory, but even more praiseworthy was his 106 not out in the successful 4th innings run chase against Australia at Perth. In the 2nd highest run-chase in test history, de Villiers innings set the stage for South Africa’s first series win in Australia.
Murray Goodwin
Sussex won the 3rd of their recent championships in 2007, but with the loss of Mushtaq Ahmed’s wickets in 2008, they were destined for more of a struggle. Murray Goodwin was the leading run-scorer in either division of the County Championship, and the main reason why Sussex were able to avoid relegation. In addition to a 1st innings 184 in a victory over Hampshire at Arundel, Goodwin scored three 2nd innings hundreds in matches that otherwise could have been lost. Six centuries in all represents a fine continuation of an excellent Sussex career.
Dale Steyn
Whilst he did not enjoy the most successful test series in England, playing in only two tests, Steyn still took 74 wickets at an average of 20.01 in 2008. In this era of batting friendly conditions and a dearth of world-class pace bowlers, it is good to see the likes of Steyn and Mitchell Johnson carrying the flag. Notable performances included 5-23 against India at Ahmedabad, as the Indians were blown away for 76 in their 1st innings, and 10 wickets at Melbourne as South Africa secured their first ever series victory in Australia.
Ravi Bopara
After a tour to forget in Sri Lanka with England, Ravi Bopara bounced back in some style, with 1100+ runs in the 2nd division of the County Championship at an average of 64.55. Added into the mix were 25 wickets, and good performances in the limited over competitions. The quarter final of the Friends Provident Trophy saw Essex taking on Leicestershire, where Bopara hit an unbeaten 201 from 138 balls out of a total of 350. All of this did not go unnoticed by the England hierarchy, and Bopara looks set to be one of Englands brightest talents in the years to come.
Claire Taylor
Claire Taylor is the only one of the Wisden 5 that I have decided to include in my own selection. 634 runs at 57.63 in 50-over matches and 143 runs in England’s victorious Ashes test were key contributions to a highly successful 2008 for the women’s team.
So, there you have it. You may not agree with all, or any, of my choices, but as such these are my awards and I shall make no apologies for any selection! Feel free to include your own suggestions in the comments below.
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