International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the four man shortlist for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year 2021.
ICC has shortlisted Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, England’s Test captain Joe Root, Pakistan wicket-keeping batsman Mohammad Rizwan and New Zealand talisman Kane Williamson for the top award.
Shaheen Afridi – Pakistan
78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20. Best bowling figures of 6/51 this has been a fabulous year for the left handed pacer.
The tall Pakistani pacer was on fire throughout 2021, knocking some of the best batters over across all three formats of the game. He especially had a year to remember in Tests and T20Is, reaching his absolute peak during the T20 World Cup in UAE where he impressed one and all with his sheer speed and skills.
He would scalp 7 wickets in six matches during the tournament in Pakistan’s run to the semi-final. He ruled the shortest format throughout the calendar year, scalping 23 wickets in 21 matches with his death bowling improving by leaps and bounds.
Joe Root – England
1855 runs in 18 international matches at an average of 58.37 with 6 centuries.
England’s Test skipper has enjoyed a year that will go down in the pages of the history books. Firmly establishing himself as the spine of England’s batting in Test cricket, he has often been the lone man standing for their cause.
He would follow up his exploits against Sri Lanka with a memorable knock in Chennai, a brilliant 218 against India. He would continue his sublime form against India in the return leg of the Test series at home, aggregating 564 runs in four matches with three centuries to his name.
Kane Williamson – New Zealand
693 runs in 16 internationals at an average of 43.31 with one century.
Kane Williamson’s 2021 simply cannot only be judged on the basis of the runs he scored. It was also his influential leadership that helped the Blackcaps scale unchartered heights during the year. None more so important than the ICC World Test Championship Final against India in Southampton.
Williamson played a crucial role in that game with the bat as well, scoring a vital 49 in the first innings against a quality bowling unit in conditions assisting the seamers. He followed it up with a crucial 52* in the run chase of 139, taking his side home before lifting the mace.
Mohammad Rizwan – Pakistan
1915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with 2 centuries. 56 dismissals.
The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game. Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89.
Rizwan also upped his game in Test cricket, scoring 455 runs in 9 matches at an average of 45.50. Most importantly though, he was consistent throughout the year and played a variety of roles across all formats.