Wisden awards: Ellyse Perry, Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins honoured by ‘cricket’s bible’
Pat Cummins reveals he was sworn to secrecy when informed of his Wisden cricketer of the year honour a couple of months ago, with the award announcement only made public this week.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Pat Cummins admitted he was ‘taken off guard’ when his outstanding 2019 was recognised by being named as one of the five cricketers of the year by Wisden.
“The first I heard about it was a couple of months ago,” he said.
“The award is held in high regard in Australia, I remember my dad and grandad talking about it.
Watch Fox Cricket Classics on Kayo including the ‘97/98 Aus v RSA 2nd ODI & the 2015/16 Aus v India 3rd T20. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming
“It caught me off guard to get it but I feel very honoured and privileged to win it. I had to keep it quiet, I hadn’t told anyone.”
He was the pick of the Australian attack as they retained the Ashes taking 29 wickets in the five Test series which ended in a 2-2 draw.
“I have so many favourite moments from the Ashes series,” he said.
“There was a plan years in advance, I was in good form and fitness.
“To have a good series personally is great.
“It’s the one big event you really look forward to, and I’m proud to get through five Tests.”
Cummins, when asked to select his best memories of the series, shied away from personal achievements to the collective one.
“In terms of moments, the two wins -- the first win at Edgbaston, starting the first Test match with a win,” he said.
“Then obviously retaining the Ashes at Manchester late in day five would be another moment.”
As for how he and his team-mates keep fit during the hiatus, he said coach Justin Langer kept them on their toes.
“It’s weird because you spend every day with the boys and we haven’t seen anyone,” he said.
“We’ve been contacting each other via WhatsApp - David Warner is very vocal on his gym sessions, his house looks like the Rocky 4 movie!
“Justin Langer has been sending workout videos every day.
“Everyone’s been enjoying their time separately but keeping in touch.
“By the time we get back on tour we’ll be annoying each other in person rather than just over the phone.”
Perry back on top of world with historic double
Ellyse Perry has joined the elite company of Kumar Sangakkara, Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli after receiving a duel honour from Wisden, the ‘bible of cricket’.
Perry was named one of the publication’s five cricketers of the year - alongside compatriots Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne - as well as reclaiming her leading women’s cricketer in the world title from India’s Smriti Mandhana.
Only the three male heavyweights had previously pulled off such a double, underlining the regard with which Perry is held across the globe.
In 2019 Perry scored a century in the only Test Australia played, and two more in ODIs where she boasted an average of 73. In six Twenty20 international innings she was dismissed just once, averaging a staggering 150.
As well as her batting exploits, the leading allrounder in the women’s game also took 21 ODI wickets at 13 apiece, and six in T20s.
As the judges wrote: “Quite simply, there was only one winner.”
English allrounder Ben Stokes unseated Virat Kohli as the leading cricketer in the world, ending the India captain’s three-year reign.
The 28-year-old allrounder was given the nod following his heroic exploits last northern summer, when he inspired England to an unforgettable triumph in the World Cup before producing one of the greatest innings of all time to win the Ashes Test at Headingley.
“Ben Stokes pulled off the performance of a lifetime - twice in the space of a few weeks. First, with a mixture of outrageous talent and good fortune, he rescued England’s run-chase in the World Cup final, before helping to hit 15 off the super over,” said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth.
“Then, in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, he produced one of the great innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 to pinch a one-wicket win. Against red ball or white, he was a force of nature.”
Stokes’ World Cup-winning team-mate Jofra Archer, whose Ashes duel with Steve Smith will live long in the memory, rounded out the five cricketers of the year.
Cummins, currently ranked as the world’s number one Test bowler by the ICC, was a dominant force as Australia retained the Ashes urn in a 2-2 series draw, taking 29 wickets at 19.62.
Labuschagne would have been considered a long shot for such recognition at the start of the year, but went from strength to strength after becoming international cricket’s first concussion substitute after the brutal conclusion to Archer versus Smith.
He went on to average more than 50 and has gone from a back-up player to number three batsman in the Test standings.