The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Wisden award for Warne

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Thursday, Apr 07, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Wisden award for Warne

By P. Subramanyam

LONDON, APRIL 6. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2005 (the 142 edition) has, for the first time in 45 years, chosen five Englishmen `cricketers of the year. This has happened only twice before since the Second World War, in 1953 and 1960.

This year's five are Ashley Giles, Steve Harmison, Robert Key, Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick. This tradition of choosing five cricketers, based on their "influence on the previous English season," dates back to 1889 and is the oldest award in cricket. Moreover, it can be won by a player only once.

A recent introduction is Wisden's `leading cricketer in the world' award. This was won last year by Ricky Ponting. The title has now been passed on to his fellow-Australian, Shane Warne, following his dramatic comeback from suspension from a 12-month ban. Since his return in March 2004, leg-spinner Warne has taken 92 wickets in 16 Test matches at an impressive average of 24.50.

"We obviously considered a good many other players," said the editor, Matthew Engel, "but in a season when England won seven Tests out of seven, the case for these five was overwhelming." It must also be mentioned here that there have been six post-war years when no Englishmen at all were chosen.

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