5 Players Who Can Win The ICC Male Cricketer Of The Year Award 2021

The International Cricket Council celebrates the performances of players annually through a set of sports awards. Every year, ICC celebrates different awards such as Test Player of the year, ODI Player of the Year, T-20 International Performance of the year, Emerging Player of the year, and many more.

However, out of those, the biggest honour is the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award. English all-rounder, Ben Stokes won the award last year. For those of you who don’t know, the ICC Cricketer of the year award was first given in 2004.

Rahul Dravid won the award for the first time. 14 different players have won the award since. It will be interesting to see who wins it in 2021. On that note, here’s a look at 5 cricketers who can win the ICC Male Cricketer of the Year Award 2021.

5 Players Who Can Win The ICC Male Cricketer Of The Year Award 2021

5. Devon Conway

Devon Conway made his debut for New Zealand this year in all formats. In less than a year, he has become an integral part of New Zealand’s team in all formats. Conway has been nothing short of outstanding this for the Blackcaps. He has produced sensational knocks in all three formats in 2021.

He played 3 Tests and scored 379 runs at an average of 63.2. In the two-match Test series against England, Devon Conway he was the highest run-getter with the bat. In 2 Tests, he aggregated 306 runs at an average of 76.50.

He rose through the ranks by displaying impressive performances in T20 internationals. In 20 matches, Conway scored 602 runs at an average of 50.2. Besides, the southpaw has scored 225 runs in 3 ODIs at an average of 75.00.

4. Mohammad Rizwan:

Perhaps, no other player in Pakistan Cricket has impressed more than Mohammad Rizwan in 2021. He has made some significant contributions with the bat for Pakistan across formats this year. He has scored the most runs in T20 internationals this year. In 23 T20Is, Rizwan aggregated 1123 runs at a staggering average of 74.86. In Tests, he has played 9 matches and scored 455 runs at an average of 45.50.

The 29-year old was the third-highest run-scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. In 6 matches, he aggregated 281 runs at an average of 70.25. His impressive performances with the bat helped Pakistan reach the semi-final of the perennial tournament.

3. Dimuth Karunaratne

Sri Lanka’s Test specialist, Dimuth Karunaratne has had a phenomenal year with the bat. The Sri Lankan captain is one of the most prolific run-scorer for the nation in the recent past.

In just 7 Tests played this year, Karunaratne has managed to score 902 runs at an average of 69.38. He has the highest average among all the batsmen this year in Test Cricket. Besides, The Sri Lankan opener has hit 4 centuries and 3 half-centuries in Test Cricket.

2. Joe Root

It is safe to say that Joe Root has been in the form of his life. He is scoring runs for fun at the moment in Test Cricket. In the recently concluded first Test against Australia, Joe Root surpassed Michael Vaughan to become the English cricketer with the most Test runs in a Calendar year. Root has hit as many as 6 centuries and 2 half-centuries this year. In 13 Tests he played this year, he has managed to score 1544 runs at an average of 57.61.

Root was phenomenal with the bat during England’s tour of India earlier this year. He was the highest run-getter, managing 368 runs in 4 matches at an average of 46.00. In the recently concluded first Test against Australia, Joe Root got out on nought in the first innings but then played a solid 89-run knock off 165 balls.

With the kind of batting display he has shown this year, Joe Root is one of the strongest contenders to win the ICC Male Cricketer of the Year.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has been outstanding for India, especially in Test Cricket this year. India played a home Test series against England. Ashwin picked the most number of wickets in the series with 32 at an average of 14.72. In the recently concluded two-match Test series against New Zealand, Ashwin once again picked the most wickets for India. He claimed 14 wickets in 2 Tests at 11.36. No other bowler has picked more Test wickets in 2021 than Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Indian spinner has managed to pick 52 wickets in just 8 Tests this year at an average of 16.23. On the back of impressive performances in the IPL over the years, Ashwin was also included in India’s team for the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup.

He took 6 wickets in 3 matches played in the tournament and was also featured in the T20 series against New Zealand. Ashwin has had an outstanding year and is definitely a contender to win the ICC Male Cricketer of the Year.