The phase between 2014-18 was an interesting one in the game. ODI cricket had new rules in play that tilted the balance heavily in the batsmen’s favour. Test cricket on the other hand saw one of the most bowling-friendly phases in the game. Batters across the world especially in away conditions found it difficult to score runs.
The new superstars in the game emerged during this phase. Indian cricket’s ascension during these 5 years could be felt at the ICC awards too.
We look at the best cricketer award recipients between 2014-18:
#1 2014 – Mitchell Johnson
England had outplayed Australia in 2013 in home conditions. Australia appeared a side in disarray. They were expected to go down when England visited Australian shores later in 2013. But one man had other plans. Mitchell Johnson tore apart England in a hostile series that saw Australia whitewashing their nemesis 5-0. Johnson picked up more than 30 wickets. It wasn’t just the number of wickets that he picked but the manner in which he picked them.
He demolished the England batting lineup. Johnson went on to repeat his heroics against South Africa in their den. Batters around the world had no idea how to face up to a fiery Johnson. There was little doubt that he will bag the men’s cricketer of the year award.
#2 2015 – Steve Smith
It was the year when the world discovered Steve Smith – the batsman. He scored a massive 1734 runs in Tests at an average of 82.57. Smith piled up 402 runs in the 2015 ODI World Cup thereby cementing his status as an all-format batsman. He took a particular liking to Indian bowlers. Smith scored 4 Test centuries in as many Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series down under. He was a deserving winner of the award in 2015.
#3 2016 – Ravichandran Ashwin
He is the first and the only spinner so far to have won the award. Ravichandran Ashwin had a stellar 2015-16. It was Ashwin who played a big hand in India’s brilliant home run. He notched up centuries in West Indies underlining his all-round credentials. Ashwin won the player of the series awards against West Indies (away) and New Zealand (home). He was also awarded the Test player of the year.
#4 2017 – Virat Kohli
He was in sensational form during this phase. Virat Kohli’s Test career was at its peak during the period between 2016-19. Kohli had scored 2023 in 18 Tests comprising 8 centuries and 3 fifties. He had a stellar run in ODIs too scoring 1818 runs in 31 ODIs notching up 7 centuries.
Kohli struck at 152.55 in T20Is scoring 299 runs. It was difficult to look beyond Kohli in 2017. He won the Cricketer of the year, and ODI cricketer of the year, and was nominated as the captain for both Tests and ODIs.
#5 2018 – Virat Kohli
It was Virat Kohli’s year in 2018. He won all three major awards for the year. Kohli was conferred with the ODI cricketer of the year, Test cricketer of the year, and cricketer of the year award. It was for the first time that a player won all three premium awards. He was also appointed the captain of the Test and the ODI team.
Kohli had a stellar 2017-18 wherein he scored 1322 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 55.08 smashing 5 centuries in the process. It was in the ODIs though where Kohli scaled new heights. He piled up 1202 runs in just 14 ODIs at an insane average of 133.55 comprising 6 centuries. Kohli could do no wrong during this phase of sheer dominance.
