Kane Williamson named Wisden cricketer of the year for 2015

Wisden announced the list of five players who feature in their cricketers of the year category. The list of five features two New Zealanders, two Englishmen and one Australian.

New Zealand’s current Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 (T20) skipper Kane Williamson, retired cricketer Brendon McCullum, Australian skipper Steven Smith, England all-rounder Ben Stokes and his teammate wicket keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow have made it to the prestigious list.

Kane Williamson was in breathtaking form last year amassing 1172 runs in 8 Test at a ‘Bradmanesque’ average of 90.15 including 5 centuries and 4 half-centuries. His best knock of the year was the unbeaten 242 he hit against Sri Lanka at Wellington.

McCullum scored a 54-ball hundred, the fastest in Tests in his farewell game, while Smith scored a double-ton at Lord’s to add to his magnificent 143 at Oval in The Ashes last year.  Stokes is England’s most reliable all-rounder across all formats and showcased his batting prowess against South Africa amassing 258 runs from just 198 balls in the first Test at Cape Town.

Wicket keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow also played the role of the crisis man. His heroic 74 in the match – defining partnership with Joe Root at Trent Bridge during the Ashes last year earned him the name of an Ashes hero.

These cricketers now sit alongside legendary names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis among others.

Lawrence Booth, the Wisden editor, says of McCullum that “an English summer has rarely witnessed a more popular touring captain,” and recognizes the influence he had over England’s resurgence in one-day cricket.”

“His replacement as New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, showed his class with a superb century in the Lord’s Test. Smith reigned in London last summer as the standout Australia player in a losing series. He made a double century and a hundred at the Oval. Australia won both games.”