Wisden Cricketers of the Year

I hear a woman made it.

harmison?

Claire Taylor, the leading run-scorer in England's recent victory in the Women's World Cup, has made further history by being named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year. She is the first woman to receive the accolade since Wisden introduced its honours, 120 years ago, in 1889.

Taylor, 33, made 324 runs at 64.80 as England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time since 1993. Her fellow Cricketers of the Year are the England bowler James Anderson, Durham's Dale Benkenstein and the South African pair Mark Boucher and Neil McKenzie.

Taylor and the England team had been in magnificent form leading up to their World Cup triumph: early in 2008, they retained the Ashes by winning only their fourth Test in Australia; they then went through the entire summer undefeated. Taylor was instrumental in both achievements, and established herself as the leading batsman in women's cricket after sealing victory in the Bowral Test.

Scyld Berry, the editor of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, said: "Beating Australia in Australia is the objective for all cricketers, at least in England, and Claire almost single-handedly saw England through to victory and the retention of the Ashes in Australia last year, not to mention her success in the World Cup just a couple of weeks back. It would be a sin of omission, an act of prejudice, to exclude her from the accolade.

"The England women have been the pride of the nation as far as cricket is concerned in recent years, and Claire's nomination as a Cricketer of the Year is testament to the sterling effort the ladies have consistently put in.

"James Anderson has been England's most reliable pace bowler in the last year; Dale Benkenstein guided Durham to their first Championship, while Mark Boucher and Neil McKenzie were the backbone of the South African side which defeated England last summer."

AB deserved it ahead of crab McKenzie.

[harrummpphh, cigars]This 'cheaps' WCOTY forever. In fact, this may be the world standard 'cheaping'.[/harrummpphh, cigars]

More seriously, perhaps there are too many of these awards given out? Also, perhaps it's a flaw that players can't win the award more than once.

lardbucket wrote:[harrummpphh, cigars]This 'cheaps' WCOTY forever. In fact, this may be the world standard 'cheaping'.[/harrummpphh, cigars]

More seriously, perhaps there are too many of these awards given out? Also, perhaps it's a flaw that players can't win the award more than once.

Didn't Hobbs get it twice?

More seriously, perhaps there are too many of these awards given out? Also, perhaps it's a flaw that players can't win the award more than once.

Didn't Hobbs get it twice?

That's more than RD's managed . . .

And Plum. But they had been sole recipients when first awarded it. I think.

I think there was a long discussion about it on the first trivia thread

taipan wrote:I think there was a long discussion about it on the first trivia thread

Fark! How long ago was that. i can only remember back to Triv III.

can't remember TBH. However I can remember I screwed up the question. Something about posthumous awards I think.

Well who else could they give it to? Name a male English cricketer who's done better over the past year.

taipan wrote:can't remember TBH. However I can remember I screwed up the question. Something about posthumous awards I think.

Nah I think they were both for milestone records. Hobbs linked to Grace. And Plum for captaining two different counties to the championship. Though Plum's could have come as an adminstrator whilst still playing.

Well they once awarded it to five non-FC cricketers so a woman's probably long overdue eowyn.

Bradman wrote:

taipan wrote:can't remember TBH. However I can remember I screwed up the question. Something about posthumous awards I think.

Nah I think they were both for milestone records. Hobbs linked to Grace. And Plum for captaining two different counties to the championship. Though Plum's could have come as an adminstrator whilst still playing.

That came out of the discussion. My question was the only cricketer to receive it posthumously. Then it came out that Wisden himself got one.

If Hobbs and Plum won it twice, that's news to me.

AFAIK previous winners are not eligible now ... they must have been in the past?

My point was ... I think excellent players should be allowed to win more than once ... in fact, as often as they are amongst the best 5 players of the year. Otherwise it's just a 'best of the rest', or 'best of the leftovers' award.

lardbucket wrote:If Hobbs and Plum won it twice, that's news to me.

AFAIK previous winners are not eligible now ... they must have been in the past?

My point was ... I think excellent players should be allowed to win more than once ... in fact, as often as they are amongst the best 5 players of the year. Otherwise it's just a 'best of the rest', or 'best of the leftovers' award.

they were special awards. I think Hobbs was the only one for that year.

Here you go

lardbucket wrote:[harrummpphh, cigars]This 'cheaps' WCOTY forever. In fact, this may be the world standard 'cheaping'.[/harrummpphh, cigars]

James Anderson being picked 'cheaps' WCOTY far more than a woman being picked IMO.

lardbucket wrote:If Hobbs and Plum won it twice, that's news to me.

AFAIK previous winners are not eligible now ... they must have been in the past?

My point was ... I think excellent players should be allowed to win more than once ... in fact, as often as they are amongst the best 5 players of the year. Otherwise it's just a 'best of the rest', or 'best of the leftovers' award.

Couldn't agree more. It's a doorstop award. You put it somewhere where it's useful but out of the way.

We have this every year, it's a Wisden/British thing, it's not for Aussies to understand.

eowyn wrote:We have this mincing every year, it's a Wisden/British thing, Aussies are incapable of remembering last week let alone last year

Fixed

eowyn wrote:We have this every year, it's a Wisden/British thing, it's not for Aussies to understand.

Aye . . . like bad teeth and body odour . . .

Exactly, taccy one.