SA trio in ICC World teams
Brad Morgan
13 September 2007
Three South Africans were named to World XI teams at the International Cricket Council Awards in Johannesburg on Monday evening, while Australia's Ricky Ponting was named Cricketer of the Year.
With Ponting to the fore, it was a great night for Australia as the world's number one team claimed four individual awards and, to round things off nicely, had four players voted into the test team of the year and four players into the one-day international team of the year.
Only one South African was shortlisted for an award, that being Jacques Kallis in the categtory of One-day International Cricketer of the Year. He was up against three Australians for the honour, namely Ponting, Glenn McGrath and the winner, Matthew Hayden.
Kallis controversy
The fact that Kallis made the shortlist was tinged with irony, since the all-rounder was controversially left out of South Africa's squad for the Twenty20 World
Championships. Upset by his omission, he resigned as vice-captain of the Proteas.
Talks to clear the air were subsequently held between Kallis and Cricket South Africa, with Kallis re-affirming his commitment to South African cricket.
Then, Loots Bosman, a batsman, was forced to withdraw from the SA T20 squad because of an injury. He was controversially replaced by Andre Nel, a bowler, while Kallis, who covers both batting and bowling because of his all-round skills (as well as his fine fielding), remained on the outside looking in.
His non-selection remains a mystery to many South African cricket fans and his selection to the shortlist for ODI cricketer of the year serves to enhance the mystery.
ODI Team of the Year
Kallis and his long-time friend Mark Boucher, who was fined by CSA for speaking up about Kallis' non-selection for the T20 World Championship, were both named in the World One-Day Team of the Year. The line-up was
named in batting order, with Kallis at number five and Boucher, the wicketkeeper, at number six.
The full team is: Matthew Hayden (Aus) Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain) Kevin Pietersen (Eng) Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) Jacques Kallis (SA) Mark Boucher (SA, wicketkeeper) Chaminda Vaas (SL) Shane Bond (NZ) Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) Glenn McGrath (Aus) 12th man: Michael Hussey (Aus).
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was the only South African to crack the nod in the Test Team of the Year, which included four players who also made the limited overs side.
Test Team of the Year
The full line-up is: Matthew Hayden (Aus) Michael Vaughan (Eng) Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain) Mohammad Yousuf (Pak) Kevin Pietersen (Eng) Michael Hussey (Aus) Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wicketkeeper) Stuart Clark (Aus) Makhaya Ntini (SA), Mohammad Asif (Pak) Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) 12th man: Zaheer Khan (Ind).
Australian captain Ponting was the star of
the show. Besides being named captain of both World XI teams, he became the first person to be named Cricketer of the Year for two years in succession. He was also named Captain of the Year.
The Test Player of the Year went to Aussie opener Matthew Hayden, who dominated the World Cup with his big hitting at the top of the order.
The prolific Mohammed Yousuf was named Test Player of the Year. Not only did he break Viv Richards' record for the most test runs in a year, he also scored the most centuries in a year. The Pakistan star totaled 1 788 runs, including nine tons.
AWARD WINNERS
Cricketer of the Year: Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Test Player of the Year: Mohammad Yousuf (Pak)
ODI Player of the Year: Matthew Hayden (Aus)
Women's Cricketer of the Year: Jhulan Goswami (Ind)
Emerging Player of the Year: Shaun Tait (Aus)
Associate ODI Player of the Year: Thomas Odoyo (Ken)
Captain of the Year: Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Spirit of
Cricket Award: Sri Lanka
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