Murali, Vaas, Sanga in World Test, ODI teams

Ricky Ponting takes top ICC honours

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was named Player of the Year at the prestigious ICC Awards, held at a glittering ceremony on Monday night in Johannesburg.

Ponting also scooped the Captain of the Year award and was named in both ICC World Teams of the Year, as chosen by a panel of some of the greats of the game.

The 32-year-old Tasmanian has had an outstanding year with the bat, dominating at both Test and ODI level, and has also established himself as one of the most tactically aware and fearless captains in the world.
Ponting was joined on the winners’ list by Australia team-mates Matthew Hayden, who took the ODI Player of the Year award, and Shaun Tait, who was named Emerging Player of the Year.

Jhulan Goswami of India followed in the footsteps of former Australia captain Karen Rolton to become the second ever Women’s Player of the Year.

For the first time, there was an award for the Associate ODI Player of the Year to mark the contribution that the non-Full Member teams are making to the world of cricket. Kenya all-rounder Thomas Odoyo became the inaugural winner of this award, having a fine year with both bat and ball.