Kumar Sangakkara named ODI Cricketer of the Year: Did he deserve the award?

Bestowed with the honour of the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year 2013, Sri Lanka’s perfectionist, Kumar Sangakkara has now stretched his love affair with the 10-year-old annual awards to three years. It all started in 2011, when he won the ODI cricketer of the Year prize for the first time. Since then, Sangakkara has bagged four more ICC awards, namely Cricketer of the Year 2012, Test Cricketer of the Year 2012, People’s Choice Award 2012, and the latest accolade.

Sangakkara’s class and performances, over the years, can never be a subject of speculation or debate. One of the most elegant batsmen of the last decade or so, the former Sri Lanka captain has broken several records in the book, and more importantly has played the role of a vital cog in his nation’s success, on the field. But if one were to evaluate his performances in ODIs from August 2012 to August 2013 (when performances are judged for the relevant ICC awards), and compare them to the performances of the other nominees in the same category over the same time period, should Sangakkara have won the ODI cricketer of the year prize then?

Sangakkara had to ward off competition from Saeed Ajmal and Misbah-ul-Haq of Pakistan, and Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja of India to win the coveted award for the second time in his career. The fact that all the nominees in this category were from the subcontinent just goes to show which part of the cricketing world witnesses most number of ODIs in a year. But that’s a different discourse altogether. For the moment, let’s evaluate the performances of these six gentlemen during the applicable time frame, and try to come to a conclusion on whether the jury appointed by the ICC raised the right chit from the bowl or not.

  

Saeed Ajmal

The Pakistan spinner played 21 ODIs during this time period. He registered 41 scalps at an impressive average of 19.75, and struck once almost every 28 balls. He picked up 27 of the 41 wickets during the 15 matches played on foreign soil. Moreover, he accounted for 18 wickets in the subcontinent, compared to 23 outside. As a spinner, that statistic makes his success even sweeter. One of his two career five-wicket hauls in ODIs came during this period. During these 21 matches, he registered his best bowling averages (11.66 cumulatively) in a winning cause, when Pakistan were defending a total.

M	W	Ave	5WI	BBM	SR
21	41	19.75	1	5/24	28.6

Misbah-ul-Haq

 Captaining a side forever in turmoil in no easy job. But Misbah has taken all the rotten tomatoes in his stride, and turned out to be a real champion cricketer. He played one more ODI than his teammate, Ajmal. Misbah scored 910 runs in the calendar year, registering nine 50s at an average of 53.52. The fact that he fell 90 short of 1000 runs in the calendar year meant that his name wasn’t taken in the same vein as a Shikhar Dhawan or a Virat Kohli. In the swinging and seamy conditions of England, he scored 173 runs from three matches, at an average of 86.50. Against the pace and bounce of the South Africans, he scored 227 in five matches, at 56.75. The fact that his average in away conditions never fell below 55 is proof of Misbah’s character as a batsman, and as a captain. And whenever he scored a fifty in a winning cause, his average rose to a mammoth 77.50.

M	R	Ave	50s	100s	BBI	SR
22	910	53.52	9	0	96*	70.76

Shikhar Dhawan

 Shikhar Dhawan had been on India’s domestic scene for quite some time now. Finally, when he got his deserved international break, the moustache-twirling southpaw from Delhi just let it rip. He went donuts. In the period between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, Dhawan scored a satanic 666 runs from 13 ODIs, at a mouth-watering average for an opener, 55.5, and not to forget, at a strike rate of 92.75. During this period, he notched up two fifties, and converted three more to a ton. Every time he crossed the fifty mark, India won the match. Like Misbah, all his runs came away from home. And if one were to add his Test form, Dhawan had a dream year as an international cricketer.

M	R	Ave	50s	100s	BBI	SR
13	666	55.50	2	3	116	92.75

 Ravindra Jadeja

 Ravindra Jadeja’s career turned on its head, ever since bestowed with the moniker ‘sir’. Once the subject of all remodeled Rajnikanth jokes, Jadeja’s career took a complete U-turn during the last year. From being bullied by a few batsmen, he has now become India’s strike bowler in limited overs’ cricket. During the judging period, the all-rounder has played a vital role in India’s success.  He played 20 matches during this period, scored 334 runs at 41.75, but more importantly it was his bowling that took the cricketing world by surprise. He picked up 35 wickets at 18.48, including a five-wicket haul. He troubled batsmen around the world. They had no clue about which one would turn, and which wouldn’t. Out of his 35 scalps, 31 came in winning causes. The highlight of his career so far has to be the performance during the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

M	R	Bat Ave	50s	100s	BBI	Bat SR	W	Bow Ave	5WI	BBM	Bow SR
20	334	41.75	1	0	61*	88.59	35	18.48	1	5/36	29.2

 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

 Over the last couple of years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has established himself as the best one-day batsman in the world, and why not. He has scored the most important runs for his country when they needed him the most. Be it 15 required off four balls, or his team derailed halfway through an innings, Dhoni rises to the occasion when there is a crisis. One of the most composed cricketers in recent times, the Indian captain played 16 matches in the relevant period, amassing 508 runs at an average of 56.44, four points above his career average. As a wicketkeeper, he played a part in 23 wickets. But Dhoni’s contribution to his team cannot be completely evaluated through numbers alone. His average in a winning cause when India chased down a target shoots up to 128. Whenever the prolific Indian top order collapsed while batting first, captain cool kept the innings together more often than not, at an average of 77.50. During this period, Dhoni led his team to the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time.

M	R	Ave	50s	100s	BBI	SR
16	508	56.44	3	1	113*	88.96

 Coming back to Sangakkara…

 Compared to the above five contenders, Sangakkara has played about the same number of matches — 21. He scored 40 odd, runs more than Misbah, standing at 956. Dhawan scored a ton more than him, and had a better conversion rate. He scored two centuries and six 50s at 63.73. Sangakkara played a majority of his matches at home, 12. Away from home, he scored 400 runs compared to 556 at home. In matches when Sri Lanka found it difficult and lost Sangakkara could manage only 221 runs from 7 matches at a meager average of 31.57.

M	R	Ave	50s	100s	BBI	SR
21	956	63.73	6	2	169	89.34

 When you compare the above statistics and numbers, ICC’s decision of choosing Sangakkara can be definitely questioned and challenged. Since these annual awards are based on a player’s individual performances and how they impact their team’s performance as a whole, Sangakkara is not a clear winner, by any margin of thought. Misbah has been captaining a sinking ship, and has been doing it marvelously. Dhoni, apart from scoring runs, has strengthened his team’s position at the top of ODI rankings as a skipper. Jadeja has donned the uncomfortable hat of being India’s all-rounder quite brilliantly. Dhawan has been a batting phenomenon, to say the least. So, choosing Kumar Sangakkara as the ODI Cricketer of the Year is a decision that demands debate as these awards, even if not as prestigious FIFA awards, go a long way in effecting a player’s reputation and confidence.