Arguably the best batsman in all formats of cricket at the moment, AB de Villiers seems to be growing in confidence after every match. Haroon Logart the chief executive of the CSA has termed him as a batting genius.
The South African skipper is in terrific form in 2015 and at the CSA function, swept away five of the nine individual awards given on Wednesday. He is a batting genius after having made the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODI’s said Logart.
27 year old de Villiers was voted as the cricketer of the year for the 2nd time in two years. It is the first time a South African has achieved that feat. He also won the ODI Cricketer of the Year, Cricketers’ Cricketer of the Year and Supporters’ Cricketer of the Year at the event.
His fastest century in ODI’s against West Indies in Johannesburg also gave him an award at the CSA award function. Hashim Amla was named the South African test player of the year. The T20 player of the year was Morne van Wyk.
There was also a prize for the delivery of the year. Dale Steyn delivery in Cape Town was given the award. Shabnim Ismail was named the women cricketer of the year.
Logart said that he is surely the best player of the modern game and his rankings in the ICC list tell just a part of the real story. He also added that de Villiers was entertaining but acted responsibly and dug deep when it mattered to the team. He also added that AB has taken international cricket to a whole different level with his skill.
The awards were decided by a panel consisting of six men. Makhaya Ntini was a part of the panel. The panel consisted of other ex players, statistician, officials and also a journalist.
Main award winners
Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers
Test Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla
ODI international Cricketer of the Year: De Villiers
T20 international Cricketer of the Year: Morne van Wyk
Cricketers’ Cricketer of the Year: De Villiers
Supporters’ Cricketer of the Year: De Villiers
Special award: De Villiers (fastest ODI century, against West Indies in Johannesburg)
Delivery of the Year: Dale Steyn (third Test against West Indies in Cape Town)
Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Shabnim Ismail