India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been nominated among four players for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test cricketer of the year award. Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket this calendar year with 52 wickets from nine games including the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
"One of India's greatest match-winners in the longest format, R Ashwin again asserted his authority as one of the world's finest spinners in 2021. Apart from his wizardry with the ball, Ashwin also made invaluable contributions with the bat," the ICC said in a release
Apart from Ashwin, England skipper Joe Root, New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson and Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne have been nominated from the award.
The winner of ICC Test cricketer of the year award will be announced in January 2022.
Nominees’ achievements
Ashwin’s 52 wickets came at an average of 16.23. It included three five-wicket haul with best bowling figures of 6/78. He contributed with the bat as well scoring 341 runs at an average of 26.23 including one century and one half-century.
On the other hand, Root ended the year as the third-highest run getter in Test cricket in a calendar year. Root scored 1,708 runs from 15 Tests at an average of 61 including six centuries and four half-centuries. His best score of 228 came against India earlier this year. However, the year did not end on a positive note for the England skipper as his team lost the Ashes with three consecutive defeats in Australia.
New Zealand speedster Jamieson played a pivotal role in helping Kane Williamson lift the Test mace after winning the inaugural World Test Championship against India. Jamieson took 27 wickets from five Tests with an average of 17.51 including three fifers.
Karunaratne was impactful with the bat as well with 902 runs from seven Tests at an average of 69.38 including four centuries and three half-centuries.
