De Villiers scoops four awards

Times Media

TELFORD VICE*, Johannesburg

Any disappointment AB de Villiers felt at not being appointed SA test captain would have been eased when he walked away with four major accolades at Cricket SA’s awards function in Johannesburg last night. But Hashim Amla, who was named test captain on Tuesday, went home empty-handed.

De Villiers was named the SA Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year. The only award he was nominated for and did not claim was ODI Cricketer of the Year, which went to Quinton de Kock. Amla was in the running for only one trophy - SA Cricketer of the Year.

Amla won that award, the top prize in the game in SA, in 2010 and 2013. The other members of this elite club are Jacques Kallis (2004 and 2011), Makhaya Ntini (2005 and 2006), Shaun Pollock (2007), Dale Steyn (2008), Graeme Smith (2009) and Vernon Philander (2012).

Imran Tahir is the T20 International Player of the Year, while Marizanne Kapp scooped the Women’s Cricketer of the Year for the second year running.

The 115 Kallis scored in his final test, against India at Kingsmead in December, earned him the So Good award.

Lance Klusener, whose Dolphins won their first trophy outright in 12 seasons when they clinched the T20 title last summer, was Coach of the Year.

Kingsmead’s Wilson Ngobese was Groundsman of the Year - perhaps because SA’s 10-wicket win over India in Durban in December followed losses in the home side’s previous four tests at the ground.

* Reported in absentia as I was not invited to the function.