Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2011 announces 4 Cricketers of the Year
Devastated by a spot fixing scandal, cricket’s top publication, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, broke a century old tradition to announce 4 instead of 5 "Cricketers of the Year".
Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack is a cricket reference book solely dedicated to annual achievements in the sport. Wisden is widely regarded as the “Bible of Cricket” and is published in United Kingdom.
The “Almanack” came about as a result of intense cricketing competition between English cricketer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Wisden-c69038, and, Fred Lillywhite. Wisden was launched in 1864 as an answer to Fred Lillywhites
“The guide to cricketers”.
Till date, Wisden has consistently provided much needed information to cricket lovers all over the world.
This year Wisden has again launched its new edition in order to keep its readers informed about the international ratings of players according to the reference book.
Wisden each year announces 5 top cricketers but in the 2011 edition only 4 cricketers are mentioned. This change occurred due to a spot-fixing scandal, which saw Pakistani pace bowlers, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, and, former skipper, Salman Butt, being
banned from all forms of competitive cricket.
Criminal charges were launched against the tainted trio in United Kingdon, which they have to face on May 20, 2011, in Southwark Crown Court.
Since 1926, Wisden has always published 5 cricketers every year but this time the editor was forced to break the tradition as one of the nominees was caught in the spot-fixing scandal.
Editor Scyld Berry expressed his emotions about the player found guilty by stating, “If [the player in question] were exonerated, then it would be possible to reconsider the position", explained http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Berry-c47842. "That's why I didn't pick anyone else instead. But as
things stand, we don't feel we can choose him. It's all very sad".
Wisden did not disclose the omitted players name but it is generally accepted that Mohammad Amir was Wisden’s pick.
Wisden’s top four cricketers for 2010-2011 are, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, Eoin Morgan, Jonathan Trott and Chris Read, all from England.
Tamim was nominated due to his breathtaking performances on his tour to England. He scored hundreds at Lords and Old Trafford.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nottinghamshire-c826 County to a much needed county championship victory.
Jonathan Trott was given the honour as he was the most consistent run-getter for the English side during 2010-2011. In total he managed to score 1325 Test runs during the calendar year.
Eoin Morgan was nominated for his sensational role in England’s ICC T20 World Cup victory.
Alastair Cook missed out on the nomination as he was supposedly a deserving candidate but was unable to fulfill the requirement of achieving major milestones consistently. Otherwise, Cook scored 766 runs in England’s historic Ashes defence in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
In a year that saw cricket suffer because of corruption, it only seems fitting that Wisden reduced its number of cricket champions.
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