Root, Williamson, Rizwan and Afridi nominated for ICC Men’s Cricketer of Year

England captain Joe Root, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and the Pakistan duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan have been on Friday short-listed for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award for his or her stellar performances throughout codecs.
The award will probably be given to the most effective general performer in males’s worldwide cricket (Tests, ODIs and T20Is) throughout 2021. The winner, who will raise the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, will probably be introduced on January 24.
Root loved a yr that may go down within the pages of the historical past books, scoring 1855 runs in 18 worldwide matches at a mean of 58.37 with six centuries. He although endured disappointment as captain with England struggling Ashes humiliation.
His yr started with a marathon knock in 228 in opposition to Sri Lanka in Galle and he has solely gone from power to power.
He would comply with up his exploits in opposition to Sri Lanka with a memorable knock in Chennai, an excellent 218 in opposition to India within the sweltering warmth in opposition to a spin assault of the best calibre.
Root continued his chic kind in opposition to India within the return leg of the Test sequence at dwelling, aggregating 564 runs in 4 matches with three centuries to his identify.
His efficiency additionally helped him attain the summit of the ICC Test Player Rankings for batting, the place he could be finally displaced by Marnus Labuschagne.
Despite failing to transform his begins into huge scores, Root continued being England’s greatest batter in opposition to Australia within the first three Ashes Tests.
As in comparison with Root, Williamson’s 693 runs in 16 internationals at a mean of 43.31 with one century was a modest complete however the admirable Kiwi can’t solely be judged on the premise of the runs he scored.It was additionally his influential management that helped the Blackcaps scale unchartered heights through the yr. None extra so vital than the ICC World Test Championship Final in opposition to India in Southampton.
Williamson performed a vital position in that recreation with the bat as nicely, scoring a significant 49 within the first innings in opposition to a top quality bowling unit in circumstances aiding the seamers. He adopted it up with a vital 52 not out within the run chase of 139, taking his aspect dwelling earlier than lifting the mace.
His management would once more be very important through the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, along with his tactical nous serving to New Zealand attain the ultimate.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan had a shocking yr with 1915 runs in 44 internationals at a mean of 56.32 with two centuries. He additionally had 56 dismissals behind the wickets.

Rizwan dominated the roost in 2021 when it got here to the shortest format of the sport. Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in solely 29 matches, Rizwan struck at a mean of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89.
Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as stable as ever behind the stumps, enjoying a key position in Pakistan’s run to the semifinals through the T20 World Cup.
Rizwan additionally upped his recreation in Test cricket, scoring 455 runs in 9 matches at a mean of 45.50.
Swing, seam, sheer tempo and scorching yorkers — Shaheen Afridi gave an exhibition of all of it in 2021 with 78 wickets in 36 internationals at a mean of twenty-two.20. He had his greatest bowling figures of 6/51 The tall Pakistani quick bowler was on fireplace all through 2021, knocking among the greatest batters over throughout all three codecs of the sport. He particularly had a yr to recollect in Tests and T20Is, reaching his absolute peak through the T20 World Cup in UAE the place he impressed every person along with his sheer pace and expertise.
He would scalp seven wickets in six matches through the match in Pakistan’s run to the semi-final. He dominated the shortest format all through the calendar yr, scalping 23 wickets in 21 matches along with his demise bowling enhancing by leaps and bounds.
He scalped 47 wickets in 9 Tests at a staggering common of 17.06.