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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Pujara or Ashwin for ICC Test Cricketer of the Year? VOTE!
This article was first published 11 years ago

Pujara or Ashwin for ICC Test Cricketer of the Year? VOTE!

December 05, 2013 08:21 IST

Image: India's Cheteshwar Pujara
Photographs: REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

Cheteshwar Pujara is one of two Indians short-listed for top honours (in the longer format) for the LG ICC Awards 2013.

The young batsman is among six players nominated for Test Cricketer of the Year.

Based on the period between August 2012 and August 2013, the awards take into account performances by nominated players.

Pujara has aggregated 549 runs in six Tests (@78.43) this year, with 204 against Australia in Hyderabad his highest score.

The 25-year-old also registered a double hundred (206 not out) in the opening Test against England at Motera last November and followed it up with a 135 against the same opponents in the next Test at the Wankhede.

He will fight it out against the South African pair of Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla, Australia captain Michael Clarke, England's James Anderson and compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin.

The awards will be broadcast live on December 14.

Does Pujara have a good chance of winning? Is one of the others named below more deserving?

Take the poll and have your say.

Steyn has 41 wickets this year

Image: South Africa's Dale Steyn
Photographs: REUTERS/Arko Datta

Arguably the world's best fast bowler, Dale Steyn was remarkably consistent this year.

The 30-year-old has taken 41 wickets in just seven Tests, at a miserly average (14.37).

His match-haul of 11 for 60 against Pakistan at the Wanderers in February helped South Africa to a crushing 211-run win.

Will a bowler upset the batsmen in the list?

Take the poll and have your say.

Amla has been consistency personified

Image: Hashim Amla of South Africa
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

In the six Tests he played this year, Hashim Amla scored 590 runs (@73.75). From 20 ODIs he aggregated 660 runs.

The 30-year-old is rated as one of the best batsmen of this generation and the numbers he racks up year after year further underline the fact.

Can he win it?

Take the poll and have your say.

Anderson has been among the wickets

Image: James Anderson of England
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

James Anderson is one of the best bowlers this season.

The 31-year-old has so far grabbed 43 wickets in just 11 Tests.

It was his haul of 22 wickets that helped England win the Ashes for a third straight time earlier in the year.

Will he be rewarded for his consistency?

Take the poll and have your say.

Clarke has performed credibly with the bat

Image: Michael Clarke of Australia
Photographs: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Australia had one of its worst years in recent memory.

However, if there is one player who stood tall amid the ruins, it is their captain.

Michael Clarke aggregated 860 runs in 10 Tests this year (@47.78).

Can individual brilliance alone help him win the award?

Take the poll and have your say.

Ashwin has performed with the ball...and the bat

Image: Ravichandran Ashwin of India
Photographs: BCCI

Ravichandran Ashwin is the second Indian in the list.

A haul of 41 wickets from six Tests, including a whopping 29 wickets in the 4-0 whitewash of Australia, underlines his credentials.

Besides, he made a significant contribution with the bat whenever the need arose.

Can his all-round effort earn him the coveted honour?

Take the poll and have your say.