India's Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2024 at the prestigious ICC Awards, becoming the fifth Indian cricketer to receive this accolade. The award, named after former West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers, is a testament to Bumrah's exceptional performances in both Test and T20 formats for India. Despite facing a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah has been pivotal in India's recent successes and is expected to be a vital player in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Jasprit Bumrah Named ICC Cricketer of the Year 2024, Honoring Sir Garfield Sobers' Legacy
Background
The ICC Cricket World Player of the Year Award, formerly known as the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, has been presented annually by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the cricketer who has achieved outstanding performances in all formats of international cricket over the past year. The award is named in honor of West Indian cricketing legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who is considered one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.
India's Jasprit Bumrah Receives Prestigious Accolade
Jasprit Bumrah, India's ace fast bowler, has been crowned the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2024. He becomes the fifth Indian cricketer to receive this prestigious accolade, following in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Rahul Dravid (2004), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2008 and 2009), and Virat Kohli (2017 and 2018).
Bumrah has established himself as one of the most formidable bowlers in world cricket. His exceptional pace, skill, and consistency have played a crucial role in India's recent successes in both Test and T20 formats.
Key Performances
Despite a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah has been a standout performer for India. In the past year, he has taken 56 wickets in 15 Tests and 42 wickets in 22 T20Is. His wicket-taking abilities and ability to bowl lethal yorkers have made him a feared opponent for batters worldwide.
Legacy of Sir Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield Sobers, the award's namesake, was known as a complete cricketer who excelled as a batsman, bowler, and fielder. He made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1954 and went on to become one of the most iconic figures in the sport.
Sobers was renowned for his all-round skills. As a batsman, he scored 8,032 runs in 93 Test matches with an average of 57.78. As a bowler, he took 235 wickets with an average of 34.03. His 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958 remains the highest individual Test score.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why is the award named after Sir Garfield Sobers? A: The award is named after Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest cricketers of all time, who excelled in all formats of the game.
2. Who was the first recipient of the award? A: Sir Richard Hadlee of New Zealand was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1989.
3. Which country has produced the most ICC Cricket World Player of the Year winners? A: Australia, with seven winners, has produced the most ICC Cricket World Player of the Year winners.
4. Which Indian cricketer has won the award the most times? A: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the award twice, in 2008 and 2009.
5. What is the eligibility criteria for the award? A: The award is open to all players who have played international cricket during the past year. The nominees are selected by a voting panel consisting of ICC representatives, journalists, and former players.
With stand-in captain Steve Smith and opener Usman Khawaja leading the charge, Australia piled on the runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Khawaja scored his maiden Test double-century and Smith continued to add to his tally after joining the 10,000 runs club. The two broke multiple records, including the highest partnership by an Australian pair in Sri Lanka and the second-highest partnership in Test cricket history for Australia. Now, with a strong lead and debutant Josh Inglis adding to the total, Australia looks poised to declare and put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
On Thursday, it was announced that Stefan Bajcetic, a former Liverpool defender, has joined Las Palmas instead of Porto for the remainder of the season. Despite initial plans for him to stay at RB Salzburg until after the Club World Cup, the player was eager for a change. This news comes on a day where two other former Liverpool captains have also made headlines.
Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
In an exciting Elite Group D match in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to bowl first against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The match saw a strong performance from Delhi's bowlers, with Railways losing five batters in the first 40 minutes of play. However, Railways' Upendra Yadav's impressive 95 helped his team reach a respectable total of 241. Notably, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli also made an appearance for Delhi, marking his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.
Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 102 runs off just 93 balls on the second day of the match in Galle. Inglis' milestone made him the second-fastest century scorer on Test debut in cricket history, following Shikhar Dhawan's record of 85 balls in 2013. The 29-year-old's impressive performance added to an intriguing trend in Australian cricket, as the last three batters from the country to score a century on debut were all from Western Australia.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc celebrated his birthday in style by reaching a milestone of 700 international wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test match against Sri Lanka, becoming the sixth-fastest player to do so. Starc's remarkable achievement further solidifies his place in the annals of fast bowling history and puts him alongside other cricketing legends.
In an impressive batting performance, Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut for Australia, becoming the third centurion of the innings after Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Inglis reached the milestone in just 90 balls, the second fastest by a debutant, before eventually falling for 102 runs. His partnership with Khawaja, who achieved his maiden Test double century, helped Australia reach 600 runs before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. Despite the strong batting display, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya stood out with his career-high 60 overs bowled in an innings.
After surpassing former India wicket-keeper Naman Ojha's record, 38-year-old Sheldon Jackson becomes the top six-hitter in Ranji Trophy history. In his 100th Ranji Trophy appearance, Jackson hit his milestone six against Assam, securing his place as one of only six batters to have smashed over 100-plus Ranji Trophy sixes. With over 6600 runs in the Ranji Trophy, Jackson ranks third among Saurashtra batters, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Sitanshu Kotak. He was also instrumental in Saurashtra's two title wins, including a match-winning century in the semifinal.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's return to first-class cricket after eight years drew over 15,000 fans to Delhi's Kotla stadium, with the crowd growing by the minute. Fans packed the Gautam Gambhir stand and broke barricades in order to watch Kohli in action, with some even coming from out of town just to see him play. Despite some chaotic moments at the gates, the excitement and energy of the crowd was palpable as Delhi took on Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.