ICC Cricketer of the Year award winners

Awards are a recognition for a player’s hard work and accomplishments over a period of time. And when an award comes from the sport’s’ governing body, it is the ultimate honour for any sportsperson.Since 2004, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been awarding deserving candidates across various categories, and the most prestigious of their awards is the Cricketer of the Year (earlier Player of the Year) award. It is given under the name of legendary West Indian Sir Garfield Sobers (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) every year.Here is the list of award winners over the years.

#1 2004 - Rahul Dravid

Judging Period: 1 August, 2003 – 31 July, 2004

The Indian batting legend bagged the top honour in the inaugural edition of the ICC Awards ceremony held at London. The right-hander was in prime form over the consideration period, having scored three double centuries in just 16 Test innings. The ‘Great Wall of India’ averaged a staggering 95.46 with 2 90+ scores as well, for a colossal total of 1241 runs.

In ODIs, Dravid scored 944 runs in 24 innings (27 matches) at an average of 42.90 with a century and 8 half-centuries. The Bangalorean was also chosen as the Test Player of the Year for his jaw-dropping performances.

#2 2005 - Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis

Judging Period: 1 August, 2004 – 31 July, 2005

Unlike the first year, the second year did not have a clear winner as the awards panel named the duo of Jacques Kallis and Andrew Flintoff as joint winners.

Both the all-rounders were in exceptional form across both the formats played by them. The South African was the leading run scorer for the period of consideration at a remarkable average of 71.28 runs per dismissal. The Protean scored 6 centuries and 8 fifties in the 26 innings he batted. In ODIs, he scored 697 runs from 19 matches. With the ball, the South African captured 20 and 8 wickets in the Test and ODI formats respectively. Like Dravid in 2004, Kallis also won the Test Cricketer of the Year award.

Flintoff, with 44 wickets to his name at 24.68, also added 366 runs in 10 Tests. In 16 ODIs, he registered 25 wickets at 23.08 runs a piece apart from adding 464 runs at 38.66.

#3 2006 - Ricky Ponting

Judging Period: 1 August, 2005 – 8 August, 2006

The Australian captain topped the run scorers’ list in Test matches, accumulating a massive 1791 runs in 30 innings (16 matches). The No. 3 batsman averaged 68.88, blasting 9 centuries. Notably, the right-hander scored tons in both the innings of a Test match twice, both against a potent South African bowling attack at Sydney and Johannesburg. He also bagged the Test Player of the Year honours.

In one-dayers, Ponting had 920 runs to his name in 20 matches at a good average of 48.42 and a strike rate of 93.21.

#4 2007 - Ricky Ponting

Judging Period: 9 August, 2006 – 8 August, 2007

Ponting continued where he left off in 2006, scoring 1185 runs in ODIs for Australia. His 576 runs in whites came at an average of 82.28 in just 8 innings. With this award, the player became the first (and only) man to win the prestigious honour back-to-back.

Three centuries and 10 fifties in 50-over matches to go with a couple of Test tons helped him consolidate his status.

#5 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Judging Period: 9 August, 2007 – 12 August, 2008

The Caribbean left-hander was recognized for his consistency across all formats in the 5th edition of the ICC Awards ceremony held in Dubai. Chanderpaul averaged a remarkable 74.75 in ODIs and a Bradmanesque 91.00 in Test matches.

The player helped himself to 598 runs in 13 ODIs and 819 runs in 15 Test innings.

#6 2009 - Mitchell Johnson

Judging Period: August 13, 2008 – August 24, 2009

The left-arm quick became the first bowler to win the award since its inception 6 years before. With 80 Test wickets from 17 matches at an average of 27.07 runs per dismissal, Johnson was easily the leading wicket-taker in the consideration period. A breathtaking performance of 8/61 against South Africa at Perth made him a strong contender for the annual award. He also scored an unbeaten century (123*) against South Africa in a losing cause at Cape Town.

In ODIs, 28 wickets from 16 matches further helped his case.

#7 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar

Judging Period: 25 August, 2009 – 10 August, 2010

Sachin Tendulkar became the second Indian after Rahul Dravid to win the top award in 2010. Having scored 1064 runs in the longer format, the Master Blaster also became the first man on the planet to score a double century in ODIs.

He boasted a proud average of 81.84 in Tests and 65.28 in ODIs. He notched up 6 hundreds in whites and three tons in the 50-over format. The Mumbaikar also won the People’s Choice award to go with his Cricketer of the Year trophy.

#8 2011 - Jonathan Trott

Judging Period: 11 August, 2010 – 3 August, 2011

The England No. 3 had a great year, accumulating runs at will – 1042 and 1064 runs in Tests and ODIs, respectively – which made him a clear winner. He was the only player to cross 1000-run mark in both the formats in the period of consideration.

Trott averaged 65.12 in Tests and 48.36 in ODIs.

#9 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara

Judging Period: 4 August, 2011 – 6 August, 2012

The Sri Lankan veteran pocketed not one, not two but three ICC Awards in the annual awards ceremony in 2012, including the prestigious Cricketer of the Year award. The left-hander made 1444 runs at an impressive average of 60.16 in 27 Test innings. With a highest score of 211, Sangakkara scored 5 tons to top the run getters list in the consideration period.

In ODIs, Sangakkara was equally good with 1457 runs to his name from 35 innings at 42.85, including three hundreds and 9 fifties. He also won the Test player of the Year and the People’s Choice Award at the ceremony held in Colombo.

#10 2013 - Michael Clarke

Judging Period: 7 August, 2012 – 25 August, 2013

Clarke earned the award by smashing consecutive double centuries in Test matches. The right-hander showcased his batting talent when he made 259* and 230 against South Africa in Brisbane and Adelaide in back-to-back innings.

Overall, the Australian skipper averaged 70.86 for his 1559 runs at a healthy strike rate of 62.11. He had five tons and 5 half-centuries during the consideration period. However, in 9 ODI innings, Clarke only managed 307 runs at 34.11. Preserving the tradition. Clarke deservingly grabbed the Test player of the Year award too.

#11 2014 - Mitchell Johnson

Judging Period: 26 August, 2013 – 17 September, 2014

The pace bowler was still the only bowler to win the award when he grabbed it for the second time. Johnson was an intimidating presence for the Englishmen in the 2013/14 Ashes series and he followed it up with a great away series against South Africa to finish with 59 wickets from just 8 matches.

An outstanding average of 15.23 with five 5-wicket hauls helped him outclass his competitors to win the top award. However, he could only get 21 scalps from 16 ODI matches.