Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year is an annual award given to five cricketers by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom. The award recognizes excellence in the previous English cricket season and is one of the oldest and most prestigious individual awards in cricket.
History
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year award was first introduced in 1889, with the inaugural recipients being “Six Great Bowlers of the Year.” The award has been given every year since then, except for a brief interruption during World War II. In 1941 and 1942, the Almanack did not select any cricketers of the year due to the limited amount of cricket played during the war.
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria for the Wisden Cricketers of the Year have evolved over time, but the primary focus remains on recognizing outstanding performances in the previous English cricket season. The award is not necessarily given to the best cricketers but rather to those who have made the greatest impact on the season.
Key factors considered in the selection process include:
- Influence on the season: The cricketer’s overall impact on the English cricket season, including their contributions to the success of their team.
- Consistency: The cricketer’s consistency in performance throughout the season.
- Significance of achievements: The significance of the cricketer’s achievements, such as a notable innings, a match-winning spell, or a record-breaking feat.
- Quality of opposition: The quality of the opposition faced by the cricketer during the season.
Notable Recipients
Over the years, many legendary cricketers have been named Wisden Cricketers of the Year. Some notable recipients include:
- W.G. Grace (1896): Considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Grace was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the sport.
- Don Bradman (1931): The legendary Australian batsman was honored for his record-breaking performances during the 1930 Ashes series.
- Kapil Dev (1983): The Indian all-rounder was recognized for his crucial role in India’s victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
- Sachin Tendulkar (1997): The Indian batting maestro was awarded for his exceptional performances during the 1996 English cricket season.
- Shane Warne (1994): The Australian leg-spinner was honored for his match-winning performances during the 1993 Ashes series.
One-Time Award
A unique feature of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year award is that a cricketer can receive it only once in their career. This rule was introduced to ensure that the award recognizes a wide range of cricketers and their specific achievements in a given season. As a result, some of the greatest cricketers in history have only been awarded once, despite their numerous outstanding seasons.
Impact and Significance
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year award is highly regarded within the cricket community, and being named a recipient is considered a significant achievement. The award not only recognizes individual excellence but also serves as a historical record of the most influential cricketers in each English cricket season.
