Random Cricket Thread (International Cricket)

[Dr Cricket]

What is the actual point of Wisden Cricketer of the year, looks like another poor cricket tradition.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Kohli looks a decent choice.

The five cricketers are parochial choices. They become less important as the English season dies, but it has a rich tradition.

[Dr Cricket]

it should change again and have a full year outlook and not just 6 months.
plus not Sure Younis khan should get it, if they were giving it to a Pakistani player it should be someone else.
his name smacks as someone only getting picked because he is a Pakistani player and he not won it before.
Anyway looking at the english test team, think all the guys have won an award now.
so only really county players plus some token overseas players will get picked now.
personally think one of Azhar Ali, Shafiq or Yashir shah should have been considered.
Younis wasn't really the key player for the 2-2 draw.

These days the awards are going to players because they haven't won it before especially if they are overseas players.

They should change it to this rule again.
"From 2000 to 2003 the award was made based on players' impact on cricket worldwide rather than just the preceding season in England"
Makes way more sense considering these days not that many Key or good overseas players will be playing majority of the English season so not many overseas players will win the award which makes it way more likely low key county players will win the award.

[Aidan11]

I'd like cricket to keep as many traditions as possible.

They're being hacked away each year by newer brooms who think only about the money.

[Dr Cricket]

pointless tradition though that will be losing its meaning when some random cricketers are winning award that basically have no meaning to last year english summer.
Suspect the reason the traditional was started was when you look at the names you start remembering what they did last year cricket season, not sure that applies these days.
What did bairstow do in 2015 wasn't even in the England test or odi team.
McCullum is memorable I give him that.
Steve Smith for his Ashes runs give him that.
Ben Stokes probably for his Lords knock and big name
Kane Williamson no idea why picked most likely for his big name and doing something for yorkshire.
hardly did anything apart from a century at lords.

The strict rules make it a mockery, hardly got any prestige either.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe they could have better choices, but the concept looks fine to me. It's not what you would devise from scratch, but part of its interest is its esoteric nature and its history (which can't be created from scratch). It comes at a welcome time after the winter as thoughts turn to cricket in England and introduces the new Wisden and the new season to the sports pages. I expect some of YK's attraction was that he was one of the greats, soon to bow out of the game. That seems reasonable also.

[Dr Cricket]

out of interest what is the biggest names or best 11 never to win wisden.
Guessing these days some of the bigger names will not win the award considering none of the big names play county cricket considering in the 90s they did give overseas players the award for county performances.
last overseas player that got it for that was jeetan patel.

[braveneutral]

I agree. I think it is an extremely prestigious award and can and should also be used to recognise the retiring greats.

[rich1uk]

i was about to reply to this discussion but then realised whats the point of even trying

[Dr Cricket]

AB De villiers might not actually win the award if SA don't win the champions trophy.
he only got the Champions trophy or the 2019 world cup to win it.
those years will be tough to get nominated since only really top batsman, top bowler and winning teams will get the players.
more competition as well since more countries tour England in those years.

[Dr Cricket]

Maybe they could have better choices, but the concept looks fine to me. It's not what you would devise from scratch, but part of its interest is its esoteric nature and its history (which can't be created from scratch). It comes at a welcome time after the winter as thoughts turn to cricket in England and introduces the new Wisden and the new season to the sports pages. I expect some of YK's attraction was that he was one of the greats, soon to bow out of the game. That seems reasonable also.

Award doesn't all have to be about england though.
Could be a global look considering Cricket is a global game and not just played in England or during the English summer.

[Dr Cricket]

I agree. I think it is an extremely prestigious award and can and should also be used to recognise the retiring greats.

Not all greats win it though.
Harbhajan singh is the highest Test wicket taker not to win the award.
Inzamam is the highest test run scorer not to win the award.
Would have been Younis khan if he didn't win the award this year.

[braveneutral]

But not everyone needs to win it to make it prestigious. If anything that devalues it.

[Dr Cricket]

Here is a best 11 never to win the award.
Virender Sehwag
Gayle
Inzamam
Ganguly
Ab De villiers
Stephen fleming
Michael hussey
Harbhajan
Ntini
Herath
Vettori

Yeah greats win the awards.

[Dr Cricket]

But not everyone needs to win it to make it prestigious. If anything that devalues it.

if anything what devalues the award is when average county cricketers wins the award.