T20 2020 in Australia !!! #ICCWT20

EIGHT CITIES THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA TO HOST ICC WORLD T20 2020

·       MCG to host women’s and men’s finals

The venues and host cities for the ICC World T20 2020, which will be hosted by Australia, were announced today at events throughout the country.

The eight Host Cities are Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

For the first time, the women’s and men’s competitions will be held as standalone events in the same host country and in the same year. This will give the best female and male cricketers respective opportunities to capture the attention of the country and the world. Women’s matches will run from 21 February to 8 March 2020 and the men’s matches will run from 18 October to 15 November 2020.

The world’s 10 best women’s teams and 16 best men’s team’s will come to Australia to battle it out for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.

The ICC World T20 will see 13 venues throughout Australia host matches, with both competitions having broad national footprints, meaning as many Australians as possible will have the chance to see the most talented players in the world.

Both the women’s and men’s finals will receive equal billing, with both matches taking place at Australia’s biggest stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The women’s semi-finals will be hosted on consecutive days at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), while the men’s semi-finals will take place at the SCG and Adelaide Oval.

The women’s final will take place on International Women’s Day 2020, Sunday 8 March, with the aim of creating a world-record attendance for a women’s sporting match.

David Peever, Chairman of Cricket Australia and the ICC World T20 2020 Local Organising Committee said, “Australia is extremely privileged to be hosting the ICC World T20 tournaments in 2020.

“On behalf of Cricket Australia and the Local Organising Committee, I would like to sincerely thank Government at both Federal and State and Territory level, host cities, venues and State and Territory Cricket Associations for their exceptional support, which is so critical for delivering the best possible events in 2020.

ICC World T20 2020 provides a unique opportunity to engage the whole community and inspire the next generation to love cricket,” Mr Peever said.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said:

“I’d like to thank Cricket Australia and their partners in Government at all levels for their commitment to the ICC World T20 in 2020. The ambition they have shown firstly in delivering stand-alone men’s and women’s events and then in the venue selection that will, I hope set a record for the biggest ever attendance at a women’s sporting event, is exciting for the sport.

“Australia has a proven track record of delivering world-class events in world-class stadiums and we know we can rely on the fans to provide great support for all of the competing teams.”

Speaking in Melbourne, ICC World Twenty20 2020 Local Organising Committee Chief Executive, Nick Hockley highlighted the benefits that would come from hosting T20 cricket’s showpiece event.

“Australia is a sporting nation, with diverse and passionate fans who love cricket. We’ve designed ICC World T20, comprising standalone women’s and men’s events, to be more inclusive, more accessible and more connected than ever before, so that everyone can join in.”

Mr Hockley added:

“Major events of this scale are all about partnerships. We look forward to working with host cities, their communities, and all partners to deliver a spectacular celebration in 2020, including welcoming thousands of international visitors to attend matches and be part of it.”

The ICC World T20 2020 takes place against the backdrop of a hugely successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which featured record crowds, broadcast audiences and visitors and the ongoing success of the Women’s and Men’s Big Bash.

For full details about the ICC World Twenty20 2020, and to register for tournament updates, fans are encouraged to visit icc-cricket.com/worldt20.

Fixture and ticketing information for the ICC World Twenty20 2020 will be released in due course.

KOHLI MOVES AHEAD OF LARA, CLOSES THE GAP ON GAVASKAR - LATEST ICC RANKINGS

KOHLI MOVES AHEAD OF LARA, CLOSES THE GAP ON GAVASKAR

ICC Cricketer of the Year 2017 Virat Kohli has moved ahead of ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Brian Lara in the all-time career-high MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, which were updated today following the conclusion of the Johannesburg Test.

Second-ranked Kohli had started the third and final Test on 900 points and earned 12 points following contributions of 54 and 41. This means he is now on 912 points and in 26th position on the all-time list, which is headed by Don Bradman (961 points). Current number-one ranked batsman Steve Smith is second in the all-time list on 947 points.

While moving from 31^st to 26^th position, Kohli has leapfrogged Lara (911), Kevin Pietersen (909), Hashim Amla (907), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (901) and Michael Clarke (900).

Kohli now has his compatriot and ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Sunil Gavaskar - who peaked at 916 points following The Oval Test against England in 1979 – firmly within his sights. The India captain will now aim to gain five points and move ahead of Gavaskar either in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June or during the five-Test series against England in August/September.

Other batsmen to improve their rankings after the Johannesburg Test include Amla in seventh (up by one place), Dean Elgar in 12^th (up by two places), Ajinkya Rahane in 18^th (up by five places), while those heading in the wrong direction are Faf du Plessis in 14^th (down by two places), Lokesh Rahul in 20^th(down by two places), Quinton de Kock in 27^th (down by seven places) and Aiden Markram in 48^th (down by 10 places).

There is no change in the top five of the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, where James Anderson comfortably leads Kagiso Rabada, Ravindra Jadeja, Josh Hazlewood and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The only bowlers inside the top 20 to improve their rankings are Morne Morkel, who has moved up two places to ninth, and Mohammed Shami, who has risen two places to a career-best 15^th position.

India’s trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are also on the charge.

Kumar has entered the top 20 for the first time in his career after lifting two places to take 20^th position, Ishant Sharma is now in 26^th spot after rising three places and Bumrah is at a career-high 46^th position after vaulting 36 places.

Kumar and Shami have also improved their rankings in the all-rounders’ list, which is still headed by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. Kumar has lifted eight places to join Rabada in 12^th position and Shami has moved from 27^th to 17^th.

All-time MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings (as on 28 January 2018):

BATSMEN	Team	POINTS
D.G. Bradman	AUS	961
S.P.D. Smith	AUS	947
L. Hutton	ENG	945
R.T. Ponting	AUS	942
J.B. Hobbs	ENG	942
P.B.H. May	ENG	941
G.S. Sobers	WI	938
K.C. Sangakkara	SL	938
I.V.A. Richards	WI	938
C.L. Walcott	WI	938
J.H. Kallis	SA	935
M.L. Hayden	AUS	935
A.B. de Villiers	SA	935
Mohammad Yousuf	PAK	933
R.G. Pollock	SA	927
E.D. Weekes	WI	927
K.D. Walters	AUS	922
A.D. Nourse	SA	922
M.E.K. Hussey	AUS	921
R.N. Harvey	AUS	921
J.E. Root	ENG	917
D.C.S. Compton	ENG	917
S.M. Gavaskar	IND	916
G.A. Headley	WI	915
K.F. Barrington	ENG	914
V.Kohli	IND	912
B.C. Lara	WI	911
K.P. Pietersen	ENG	909
H.M. Amla	SA	907
S. Chanderpaul	WI	901
M.J. Clarke	AUS	900

MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings (as on 28 January, following Johannesburg Test)

BATSMEN (top 20)

Rank      (+/-)        Player                   Team     Points    Avge      Highest Rating

   1          ( - )         Steve Smith          Aus         947!       63.75     947 v Eng at Sydney 2018

   2          ( - )         Virat Kohli             Ind          912!       53.40     912 v SA at Johannesburg 2018

   3          ( - )         Joe Root               Eng         881         53.28     917 v Aus at Trent Bridge 2015

   4          ( - )         Kane Williamson   NZ          855         50.62     893 v Aus at Perth 2015

   5          ( - )         David Warner       Aus         827         48.77     880 v NZ at Perth 2015

   6          ( - )         C. Pujara               Ind          810         50.51     888 v SL at Nagpur 2017

   7          (+1)        Hashim Amla        SA          771         49.08     907 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2013

   8          (-1)         Azhar Ali               Pak         755         46.62     787 v Aus at Melbourne 2016

   9          ( - )         D. Chandimal        SL           743!       43.94     743 v Ind at Delhi 2017

  10         ( - )         Alastair Cook        Eng         742         46.35     874 v Ind at Kolkata 2012

  11         ( - )         Ross Taylor          NZ          739         48.04     871 v Win at Hamilton 2013

  12         (+2)        Dean Elgar            SA          736         42.07     740 v NZ at Dunedin 2017

  13         ( - )         AB de Villiers        SA          699         49.92     935 v Aus at Port Elizabeth 2014

  14         (-2)         Faf du Plessis       SA          697         45.10     734 v Ind at Centurion 2018

  15         ( - )         Jonny Bairstow     Eng         692         39.12     772 v SA at Old Trafford 2017

  16         ( - )         Kraigg Brathwaite Win         690         37.43     701 v Eng at Headingley 2017

  17         ( - )         Usman Khawaja   Aus         685         45.80     747 v Pak at Sydney 2017

  18=       (+1)        Shaun Marsh        Aus         660!       40.87     660 v Eng at Sydney 2018

               (+5)        Ajinkya Rahane    Ind          660         43.68     825 v NZ at Indore 2016

  20         (-2)         Lokesh Rahul       Ind          657*       40.50     761 v SL at Pallekele 2017

BOWLERS (top 20)

Rank      (+/-)        Player                   Team     Points    Avge      Highest Rating

   1          ( - )         James Anderson   Eng         887         27.40     896 v Win at Lord's 2017

   2          ( - )         Kagiso Rabada     SA          875         22.04     888 v Ind at Cape Town 2018

   3          ( - )         Ravindra Jadeja   Ind          844         23.73     899 v Aus at Ranchi 2017

   4          ( - )         Josh Hazlewood   Aus         814         25.77     863 v Ind at Bengaluru 2017

   5          ( - )         R. Ashwin              Ind          803         25.56     904 v Eng at Mumbai 2016

   6          ( - )         Rangana Herath   SL           799         28.04     867 v Zim at Harare 2016

   7          ( - )         Vernon Philander  SA          791         21.85     912 v Ind at Johannesburg 2013

   8          ( - )         Neil Wagner          NZ          784         27.87     785 v Win at Wellington 2017

   9          (+2)        Morne Morkel       SA          773         28.08     776 v Aus at Cape Town 2011

  10=       (-1)         Nathan Lyon         Aus         769         31.64     774 v Eng at Adelaide 2017

               (-1)         Mitchell Starc        Aus         769         27.73     805 v Pak at Brisbane 2016

  12         (+1)        Trent Boult            NZ          725         28.56     825 v Eng at Lord's 2015

  13         (-1)         Dale Steyn            SA          722         22.32     909 v Win at Centurion 2014

  14         ( - )         Yasir Shah            Pak         704         29.44     878 v Eng at Lord's 2016

  15         (+2)        M. Shami              Ind          703!       28.90     703 v SA at Johannesburg 2018

  16         (-1)         Stuart Broad         Eng         683         29.33     880 v SA at Johannesburg 2016

  17         (-1)         Tim Southee         NZ          682         31.45     799 v Win at Jamaica 2014

  18         ( - )         Shakib Al Hasan   Ban         668         32.35     705 v Aus at Mirpur 2017

  19         ( - )         Keshav Maharaj   SA          634*       26.78     695 v Zim at Port Elizabeth 2017

  20         (+2)        B. Kumar               Ind          626*!      26.09     626 v SA at Johannesburg 2018

ALL-ROUNDERS (top five)

Rank      (+/-)        Player                   Team     Points    Highest Rating

   1          ( - )         Shakib Al Hasan   Ban         438        489 v Aus at Mirpur 2017

   2          ( - )         Ravindra Jadeja   Ind          391        438 v SL at Colombo (SSC) 2017

   3          ( - )         R. Ashwin              Ind          368        493 v Eng at Mohali 2016

   4          ( - )         Ben Stokes           Eng         358 /*    396 v Win at Lord's 2017

   5          ( - )         Vernon Philander  SA          322        376 v Aus at Cape Town 2014

*indicates provisional rating; a batsman qualifies for a full rating after playing 40 Test innings; a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.

!indicates career-highest rating

INDIAN CAPTAIN KOHLI WINS SIR GARFIELD SOBERS TROPHY FOR ICC CRICKETER OF THE YEAR

INDIAN CAPTAIN KOHLI WINS SIR GARFIELD SOBERS TROPHY FOR ICC CRICKETER OF THE YEAR

·       Smith declared ICC Test Cricketer of the Year

·       Kohli also awarded ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year

·       Hasan Ali wins ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year, while Rashid Khan scoops ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year award

·       Chahal’s six for 25 vs England earns him ICC T20I Performance of the Year award

·       Marais Erasmus wins David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year for second successive year, Anya Shrubsole wins ICC Spirit of Cricket Award

·       Fans select “Pakistan stun India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017” as their favourite moment of the year

India captain and run-machine Virat Kohli has won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2017 as the International Cricket Council today announced the men’s individual award winners of 2017.

Kohli also took the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award, while Australia captain Steve Smith was declared as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.

Pakistan’s Hasan Ali was named as ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year, Afghanistan’s wrist-spinner Rashid Khan was adjudged ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year, while India’sYuzvendra Chahal claimed the ICC T20I Performance of the Year for his six for 25 against England in Bengaluru on 1 February 2017.

The voting period ran from 21 September 2016 to 31 December 2017, and the winners were selected by a voting academy** that comprised respected members of the media, commentators and former players from the 12 Test playing countries.

Kohli, who is the 13^th player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy since 2004, was in blistering form during the voting period when he scored 2,023 runs in 18 Tests with eight centuries and three half-centuries. He scored 1,818 runs in 31 ODIs with seven centuries and nine half-centuries and 299 runs at a strike-rate of 152.55 in 10 T20Is.

Kohli also won his second ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award after having won the same award in 2012, making him the first cricketer to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award in the same year.

In the race for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, Kohli beat the challenge of Pakistan’s Hasan Ali and India team-mate Rohit Sharma, who finished second and third, respectively.

A delighted Kohli said: “It means a lot to me to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year. I won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year back in 2012 but this is the first time I have won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. It is a huge honour for me as it is probably the biggest award we have in world cricket. Two Indians winning it back to back makes it more special. I also want to congratulate all the other winners.

“You keep working hard every day of your life as a professional cricketer, be it training or practicing on skill sets that are required to compete at this level. Job satisfaction on the field is paramount, but international recognition by the ICC is something that every player feels privileged as it is at a global level and is something that is very special to all the cricketers because you are competing against the best international cricketers across the globe.

“2016 for me I think was a breakthrough year and I was able to continue in 2017 also. I think I worked even harder in 2017 and understand this has been a good phase for me but I will have to work even harder in future to play the same level of cricket I have been able to play in the past two years. But yeah, 2017 was indeed a very special year for me.”

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “On behalf of the ICC, I want to congratulate Virat Kohli for winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. It is the most prestigious individual award in cricket, named after one of the most iconic cricketers and recognises a player for outstanding performances across all formats over a period of time. Only the best of the best have won this award and Virat certainly deserves to be in that select group of cricketers.

“The fact that he has also won the ODI Cricketer of the Year and was named by the Voting Academy as the captain of both the ICC Test and ODI team demonstrates the impact he has had across the sport over the last year.

“Many congratulations to Steve Smith on his award as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year. Like Virat, Steve has been exceptional this year, demonstrating the qualities of a truly great Test batsman. Both players are wonderful adverts for the game of cricket and I look forward to their continuing good form into 2018.

“Mentions must also go to our Emerging Cricketer of the Year, Hasan Ali, and our Associate Cricketer of the Year, Rashid Khan, both of whom are exciting to watch and who richly deserve this recognition.

“2017 has been an action-filled year for fans across the globe enjoying the ICC Champions Trophy and the groundbreaking ICC Women’s World Cup. I thank not only the individual award winners but all the cricketers for making the last year an immensely memorable and enjoyable one for the entire cricket family.”

Australia captain Steve Smith finished second to Kohli for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, but has outvoted his India opposite number to win his maiden ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.

This was the 28-year-old’s third ICC award, having lifted the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2015, which had made him only the seventh player to win the two awards in the same year.

In the voting period, Smith scored 1,875 runs in 16 Tests with eight centuries and five half-centuries.

Reacting to the announcement, Smith said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award for the second time, having won it in 2015 as well. It’s called Test cricket for a reason, and I’ve enjoyed that test of my ability over the past 12 months.

“I got six Test hundreds for the year in 2017, which I was pleased about. I was pleased with the way I played but what pleased me most of all was that I helped us win Tests and, most importantly, The Ashes. To make a contribution in big matches and in big series and assist the team is what it is all about for me, and if I’m doing that then there’s a good chance that awards like this will follow.”

Hasan Ali capped a memorable year by becoming the first Pakistan player to be voted as the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year. The 23-year-old had won the Player of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 award and finished the year as number-one ranked ODI bowler after having started the year in 75^th position.

In the voting period, Hasan Ali took 48 wickets in 21 ODIs and 16 wickets in 11 T20Is.

An excited Hasan Ali said: “It has been memorable past 16 months for me as a young player and Pakistan as a team. And to be recognised by the game’s governing body as its emerging cricketer, is something that means a lot to me and the Pakistan cricket family. This acknowledgement will not only inspire me to do even better in the coming seasons but will also convince the next generation of cricketers that hard work and good performances can never go unnoticed.

“I would like to thank all my peers for their support, especially each and every member of the Pakistan cricket team as we showed the world what we are capable of. This award is for all those who believed and backed us in the journey, and look forward to their continued patronage as the next 18 months will be more challenging with the World Cup in 2019.”

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s 18-year-old wrist spinner, has been named as the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year after he helped his side to victory in the four-day first-class ICC Intercontinental Cup by finishing with 23 wickets in three matches.

Rashid, who is the second Afghanistan player to clinch this award, was also the leading ODI wicket-taker in the voting period with 50 wickets in 19 matches, while 13 T20Is also yielded him 23 wickets.

Rashid Khan was over the moon after hearing the news, when he said: “I'm really honoured and happy to be named as the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year. 2017 was a good year for me and I have lots of memories from last year, which are going to stay with me for a very long time.

“I want to thank to my management, my family and my friends the way they have supported me throughout the year, and prayed for me and my success. I will try my best to keep the same momentum in 2018.”

India’s Yuzvendra Chahal (six for 25 v England) narrowly edged out Evin Lewis of the Windies (125 not out v India) and Rohit Sharma (118 v Sri Lanka) to win the ICC T20I Performance of the Year. He is the second India player to win this award after Yuvraj Singh (2008).

Marais Erasmus of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires has won the David Shepherd Trophy*** for the ICC Umpire of the Year for the second year running. He is the fifth umpire to put a hand to this trophy after Simon Taufel (2004-2008), Aleem Dar (2009-2011), Kumar Dharmasena (2012) and Richard Kettleborough (2013-2015).

England’s all-rounder Anya Shrubsole has won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award****.

Shrubsole displayed humility and exemplary sportsmanship after the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Bristol when, after hitting the winning boundary with two wickets and two balls to spare, she opted to comfort distraught captain Dane van Niekerk before celebrating with her teammates. It was an act reminiscent of Andrew Flintoff consoling Brett Lee at Edgbaston in 2005 and Grant Elliott comforting Dale Steyn after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semi-final in Auckland, demonstrating the true spirit of cricket.

Pakistan stun India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 has been voted by the fans around the world as the inaugural winner of the ICC Fans Moment of the Year.

Winners:

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)

ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year - Steve Smith (Australia)

ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)

ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year - Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year - Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

ICC Men’s T20I Performance of the Year - Yuzvendra Chahal (6-25 v England) (India)

David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year – Marais Erasmus

ICC Spirit of Cricket - Anya Shrubsole (England)

ICC Fans Moment of the Year - Pakistan stun India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017