The International Cricket Council (ICC) has shortlisted four players for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2022 honor. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, Australia’s Adam Zampa, West Indies’ Shai Hope, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza have taken care of business for the esteemed honor.
The Pakistan captain scored 679 runs at an astonishing average of 84.87 in the nine ODI matches he played in 2022. Zampa, a leg spinner, demonstrated once more why he is an essential part of Australia’s white-ball team. In a total of 12 games, he took 30 wickets.
In contrast, Raza had a breakout year in 2022, starring for Zimbabwe with both the bat and the ball. He took eight wickets and scored 645 runs at an average of 49.61.
Hope has been the West Indies’ leading ODI run scorer ever since 2017, and 2022 was no exception. He had 709 runs in the year, including three centuries and two fifties, at an average of 35.45.
There were a number of other outstanding performers for their teams last year in addition to the four mentioned above.
In light of this, we examine three players who were unable to compete for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award.
#3 Shreyas Iyer-India
In 2022, Shreyas Iyer had a breakout year in ODI cricket, becoming India’s leading run scorer. He scored 724 runs in 15 innings, including six home runs and a century, at an average of 55.69.
When he came out to bat, he controlled India’s middle order and batted at a pace that was appropriate for the situation.
Shreyas deserved to be considered for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award because of his consistency.
#2 Mehidy Hasan Miraz – Bangladesh
The young Bangladeshi all-rounder excelled across all three formats in 2022, both with the bat and the ball. However, in the ODIs, he performed at his absolute peak.
In 10 innings, he hit for an average of 66 runs, including a century and fifty. He scored 330 runs. Mehidy played important knocks in the lower order, which helped stabilize Bangladesh’s batting.
He also did well with the bat, taking 24 wickets in 15 games and returning an economy rate of 5.44. His best performance against the West Indies was a 4/29.
Mehidy absolutely deserved to be nominated for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year due to his all-around performances.
#1 Trent Boult – New Zealand
The fast bowler for New Zealand, Trent Boult, had a fantastic 2022 campaign. In 2022, the left-arm pacer, who has always led the Kiwi pace attack, had one of his best years.
Boult returned with an economy rate of less than four and an average of 12.39 for 18 wickets in six matches. He has the highest average of bowlers who have played more than 50 overs in a year. He also has one of the best economy rates among fast bowlers.
Boult absolutely deserved to be considered for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award with these stupendous scores.