by Arthur Crabtree » Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:59 pm
There has been a significant turn over in star performers in the last twelve months. Only one of our Test players of the year returns to the five in 2017. Only one in the ODI list is picked again, and it is the same player*.
5. JAMES ANDERSON of England. The Lancashire seamer's brilliant average last year came thanks to a parsimonious late career economy rate. His average of 17.6 was easily the best for any type of bowler. His home pitch average of 14.1 was even further ahead of the field. More than ever, at this late stage of his career, Anderson is the beast most perfectly evolved to hunt on English pitches and in its climate. At least, within living memory.
=2. VIRAT KOHLI* of India. The Indian captain had another quietly brilliant year in five day cricket, averaging 75 and passing 200 on three occasions. If he doesn't dominate the game at Test level as he does in ODIs, he still made over 1000 run. All ten of his Tests were on Asian pitches, and he is a master in those conditions. Only Pujara, Tendulkar, Azharuddin and Sidhu average more than Kohli in Asia among Indian bats.
=2. NATHAN LYON of Australia. 2017 was the year when Lyon went from being a cult bowler with a following of appreciative but slightly ironic advocates and plenty of entrenched detractors, to being recognised as among the very best spinners in the world. And he finally clearly stepped out of the shadow of Shane Warne. Lyon was the top wicket taker of the year, with the best strike rate of any spinner. He took a lot of wickets, not only at home, but also in Asia.
=2. KAGISO RABADA of South Africa. Rabada was the leading pace bowling wicket taker in the year with the best strike rate among all the bowlers, of 38. He didn't go without a wicket in any innings he bowled in. Injury on the tour of England was the only stumble in 2017, yet he still took 16 wickets in his three starts there. And all this without getting regular use of the new ball.
1. STEVE SMITH of Australia. Smith was unquestionably the star Test player of 2017 under the huge burden placed upon him at the buttress of the Australian batting. His consistency and appetite for runs was astonishing. His six hundreds and three fifties (note that conversion rate) in 17 completed innings is even more than Bradmanesque. And his hundred in Pune was rated the innings of the year by CMS voters. He has emerged from the pack of his most illustrious contemporaries to become the best Test match batsman of his generation.
And finally, the CMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR, is a tie between Virat Kohli, last year's winner and Steve Smith.
I always say that everybody's right.