Cricket: Australians dominate ICC awards nominees

Three members of Australia's vanquished cricket team have been nominated in every category including player of the year for next month's International Cricket Council awards.

Captain Ricky Ponting, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and pace bowler Glenn McGrath, along with Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, are finalists in the one-day, test, and overall player of the year categories.

The ICC released names of the finalists today, including 34 players in four categories.

New Zealand's only nominee was spinner Daniel Vettori, who was among 18 finalists for one-day international player of the year.

The awards selection panel comprised India's Sunil Gavaskar (chairman), England's David Gower, New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee, Australia's Rod Marsh and West Indies' Courtney Walsh.

Gavaskar said that selection was based on the players' performances during the 12-month judging period from August 1 last year to July 31.

The awards ceremony is in Sydney on October 11.

NOMINEES:-

Emerging player of the year:
Aftab Ahmed (Bangladesh), Ian Bell (England), Gautam Gambhir (India), Dinesh Karthik (India), Kevin Pietersen (England), Manjural Islam Rana (Bangladesh), AB De Villiers (South Africa).

One-day international player of the year:
Rahul Dravid (India), Andrew Flintoff (England), Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan), Brett Lee (Australia), Glenn McGrath (Australia), Justin Kemp (South Africa), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Kevin Pietersen (England), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Marcus Trescothick (England), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Yousuf Youhana (Pakistan).

Test player of the year:
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Younis Khan (Pakistan), Brian Lara (West Indies), Damien Martyn (Australia), Anil Kumble (India), Glenn McGrath (Australia), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Danish Kaneria (Pakistan), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Virender Sehwag (India), Harbhajan Singh (India), Shane Warne (Australia).

Player of the year:
Rahul Dravid (India), Andrew Flintoff (England), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Glenn McGrath (Australia), Ricky Ponting (Australia).

- NZPA