The ICC's prestigious sixth annual awards are announced in South Africa. The award are given on the basic of the performance during the period between August 13, 2008 and August 24 2009, the ICC Awards 2009 take into account performances by players and officials in that period for the game.  ICC Awards 2009, different categories and result.  Cricketer of the Year: Nominations: • Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind)  • Gautam Gambhir (Ind) • Mitchell Johnson (Aus) • Andrew Strauss (Eng)Winner: Mitchell Johnson became the sixth player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Johannesburg.During the voting period, Johnson played 17 Test matches, taking 80 wickets, which was easily the highest number by any Test bowler in the voting period. His best match bowling figures were 11-159 against South Africa in Perth in December of last year and Johnson's economy-rate over the whole period was a mere 3.12. His batting skills shouldn't be forgotten either for in the last year he has managed to score a total of 632 runs for Australia, including a century and three half-centuries, to register an average of 30.09. Johnson also played 16 ODI matches in this time taking 28 wickets at an average of 24.25 and an economy rate of 5.06, his best haul being 4-34 against South Africa in April of this year. He is currently ranked third in the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers and is 11th in the ODI rankings. Johnson follows in the footsteps of India's Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff of England and South Africa's Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting of Australia (2006 and 2007) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008) to take the top award.  Test Player of the Year: Nominations: • Gautam Gambhir (Ind)• Mitchell Johnson (Aus) • Thilan Samaraweera (SL) • Andrew Strauss (Eng)Winner: India opener Gautam Gambhir has been named Test Player of the Year at the ICC awards ceremony in Johannesburg. Gambhir, who claimed his first ICC award of his career, was picked ahead of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera and England captain Andrew Strauss.  During the 12-month voting period, Gambhir put in some remarkable performances with the bat, making 1269 runs at an impressive 84.60 in the eight Tests he played. He scored five centuries and four half-centuries during the period.  ODI Player of the Year: Nominations: • Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)• Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind) • Virender Sehwag (Ind)• Yuvraj Singh (Ind)Winner: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the ODI Player of the Year award for the second year in a row at the ICC Awards in Johannesburg.  During the voting period, Dhoni played 24 ODIs and scored 967 runs at an average of 60.43 and at a rate of 86.63 runs per 100 balls faced. In that time he hit nine half-centuries making sure he led his team from the front. Also in that time, Dhoni, as wicketkeeper, played a hand in 26 dismissals (18 catches and eight stumpings) and led his country to victory in 17 of the 24 matches in which he played. He is currently ranked number one in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, comfortably ahead of the next best.  Emerging Player: Nominations: • Ben Hilfenhaus (Aus)• Graham Onions (Eng) • Jesse Ryder (NZ) • Peter Siddle (Aus)Winner: Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle won award. The 24-year-old, who played in 12 Test matches in the voting period, took 49 wickets with an average of 28.93 and made an impact playing for Australia side with his charging run-up and powerful delivery. Siddle's best bowling figures in an innings during the voting period came against England when he took 5 for 21 in 9.5 overs in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. He had earlier taken another five-for, against South Africa in Sydney. Siddle was the top choice for the 25-member voting academy, coming in ahead of team-mate Ben Hilfenhaus, England fast bowler Graham Onions and New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder.  Twenty20 International Performance of the Year:  Nominations: • Shahid Afridi (Pak) for 51 runs and taking 2-16 against South Africa• Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL) for scoring 96* against West Indies • Chris Gayle (WI) for scoring 88 against Australia • Umar Gul (Pak) for taking 5-6 against New ZealandWinner: Sri Lankan batsman Tilakaratne Dilshan won the award in recognition of his breezy 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2009 World Twenty20 in England. Dilshan's performance at The Oval included two sixes and 12 fours and helped steer his side into the finals of the tournament. According to the ICC Awards 25-member voting academy Dilshan's effort was the most impressive in the voting period between August 13, 2008 to August 24, 2009. His performance beat competition from West Indies' Chris Gayle for his 88 off 50 balls against Australia, also during the 2009 World Twenty20 at the Oval; Umar Gul's 5 for 6 for Pakistan against New Zealand in the same tournament, as well as twin efforts from Shahid Afridi - a blitzkreig 51 off 34 balls and 2 for 16 against South Africa in the semi-final.  Women's … [Read more...]