DUBAI — India’s premium fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is nominated for the
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Men’s Cricketer of the Year. Alongside Indian
ace, who is also nominated for the Test Cricketer of the year, Australia’s
Travis Head and the English batting duo of Joe Root and Harry Brook also made
the list for the prestigious honour.
Bumrah nabbed 15 wickets from eight outings, including a
couple in the final against South Africa, as India went unbeaten at the 2024
T20 World Cup.
India’s spearhead also had a memorable year in the
longest format by picking 71 wickets in 13 Tests, the most scalps taken by a
bowler this year.
In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia,
Bumrah is leading the wicket-takers charts with 30 wickets at an average of
12.83. He also completed 200 Test wickets and became the first bowler to
achieve the feat with an average less than 20.
Indian bowling attack’s nemesis Head also made the list
after shining across all formats for his country. After playing a vital role in
the 2023 ICC World Cup final, Head continued his form as he was the third
highest scorer in the 2024 T20 World Cup with 255 runs in seven innings, with
his highest score being 76 against India. The left-hander is also the leading
run scorer during the ongoing BGT helping Australia get in a good position to
solidify their spot in the 2025 WTC final.
Root, England’s premier batter, made 1556 runs from 17
Tests at an average of 55.57, his second-best annual run tally in Tests after
amassing 1708 runs in 2021. It was also the fifth instance of Root scoring over
1000 Test runs in a calendar year.
With six Test hundreds to go alongside five fifties,
Root’s impressive run saw him become the joint-fifth highest century maker in
Tests (36) alongside Rahul Dravid. In addition to his batting exploits, Root
impressed by picking a four-wicket haul in the Test series against India.
His teammate Brook scored 1100 runs in 12 Tests at an
average of 55, comprising three fifties and four hundred-plus scores, including
a maiden triple century coming in Pakistan, and became England’s breakthrough
batter in the format.
