Tight contest for cricket awards
15 May 2006
South Africa's leading cricketers, officials and administrators will be acknowledged at the third annual Mutual & Federal SA Cricket Awards on Thursday. The awards, which were launched by the UCBSA in 2004, recognise the achievements of players at all levels of the game, from under-13 through to the national team.
"The awards are one of the most important and exciting events on the cricket calendar, where we get to acknowledge and share the pride and passion of those who make it all happen," said Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa.
According to Bruce Campbell, managing director of Mutual & Federal, the event "is inspired by the outstanding performances of the players and officials who, in their various capacities make such an important contribution to the game of cricket. We are delighted to sponsor the Mutual & Federal SA Cricket Awards for the third consecutive year".
Strong contender
There are a
total of 30 awards covering both professional and amateur cricket, including the prestigious Mutual & Federal SA Cricketer of the Year, won last year by Makhaya Ntini. He is once again a strong contender this year, having been nominated in five of the SA international categories.
There are four nominees for the Mutual & Federal SA Cricketer of the Year, which, in addition to Ntini and Shaun Pollock, includes 2004 winner Jacques Kallis and first time Awards nominee Mark Boucher. The Proteas' keeper has also been nominated in the Standard Bank ODI and SA Players' Player categories.
Pollock is also a multiple nominee and together with Ntini is in the running for the Standard Bank ODI, SA Players' Player and SuperSport Fans Awards.
Stiff competition
Nominations for the Standard Bank ODI Cricketer of the Year have been increased from the regular three to six players due to stiff competition in the category. Boucher, Ntini and
Pollock are joined by Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall and Graeme Smith as challengers for the honour.
AB de Villiers has become a regular feature at the Awards; only two years ago he won the Coca-Cola under-19 Cricketer of the Year, followed by the SA Newcomer Award in 2005. This season he is a nominee for the SuperSport Fans Award and Standard Bank Pro20 Cricketer of the Year.
Ashwell Prince makes his nomination debut in the Castle Test Cricketer of the Year category, where he is joined by third-time nominees Ntini and Kallis.
Domestic nominees
On the domestic scene, players from the Gestetner Eagles and Nashua Titans have received four nominations each, with Eagles all-rounder Johan van der Wath nominated for the second year running in both the Standard Bank Cup and Domestic Players' Player Awards. Eagles' teammates Cliffie Deacon and Roger Telemachus will be competing with De Villiers for the Standard Bank Pro20 Award.
The
Titans' Dale Steyn and Paul Harris are joined by Nashua Dolphins' top order batsman Hashim Amla as contenders for the SuperSport Series Cricketer of the Year.
Highveld Lions' opener Stephen Cook receives his second nomination for the Standard Bank Cup Cricketer of the Year, while Lions' teammates Garnett Kruger and Neil McKenzie are both nominated for the Domestic Players' Player Award.
2005 Coach of the Year Corrie van Zyl is joined by Phil Russell and Richard Pybus as nominees for Franchise Coach of the Year.
The Mutual & Federal SA Cricket Awards will be presented at a gala function in Johannesburg.
NOMINATIONS
Coach of the Year: Richard Pybus (Nashua Titans), Phil Russell (Nashua Dolphins), Corrie van Zyl (Gestetner Eagles)
Groundsman of the Year: Adrian Carter (Sahara Oval St George's), Wilson Ngobese (Sahara Stadium Kingsmead), Chris Scott (Liberty Life Wanderers)
Domestic Awards
Standard Bank Cup
Cricketer of the Year: Stephen Cook (Highveld Lions), Robin Petersen (Mercedes Warriors), Johan van der Wath (Gestetner Eagles)
Standard Bank Pro20 Cricketer of the Year: Cliffie Deacon (Gestetner Eagles), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), Roger Telemachus (Gestetner Eagles)
SuperSport Series Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins), Paul Harris (Nashua Titans), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans)
Domestic Newcomer of the Year: Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Saidi Mhlongo (Nashua Dolphins), Dominic Telo (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Domestic Players' Player of the Year: Garnett Kruger (Highveld Lions), Neil McKenzie (Highveld Lions), Johan van der Wath (Gestetner Eagles)
International Awards
Standard Bank ODI Cricketer of the Year: Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith
Castle Test Cricketer of the
Year: Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince
SA Players' Player of the Year: Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock
SuperSport Fans Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock
Mutual & Federal SA Cricketer of the Year: Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock
Source: United Cricket Board of SA
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