USA Cricketer : Radiant Info Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Cricketer of the Year - Aditya Thyagarajan

openingbat — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:33:00 GMT

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By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info USA Cricketer of the Year is Aditya Thyagarajan.

It may be hard to remember for most people, but Thyagarajan was left out of the starting XI for USA’s first match of the year at the World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE against Scotland. After a mediocre set of performances in USA’s warm-up matches, he was forced to sit on the sidelines.

Taking it in stride, he returned for USA’s second match against Ireland and scored 72 not out against the most dominant Associate level team of the last five years. He never looked back after that innings and went on to become USA’s leading scorer of the year.

Thyagarajan is not the flashiest or the most devastating batsman on USA’s senior team. But in 2010, his efficiency made him USA’s most valuable player. Of course, nobody in the USA plays the late cut better than Thyagarajan.

Stationed in the middle order, he was literally and figuratively the fulcrum of USA’s batting lineup. For a significant amount of USA’s games, success or failure depended upon the support and stability Thyagarajan provided to get his team out of trouble.

Just as important as his efficiency was his consistency. Rarely did he fail to perform. Whether he came in with 10 overs or 30 overs left to bat, Thyagarajan manufactured runs to keep the scoreboard ticking, taking pressure off him and his teammates and throwing it back onto the opposition.

Not only is he a steady performer for the national team, Thyagarajan also scores plenty of runs playing league cricket for Hollywood CC as well as for the South West Region at USACA tournaments. While the opponents may change, the approach and results remain the same for Thyagarajan.

In 2010, the results were mighty impressive too. In nineteen 50-over matches he scored 612 runs and contributed 150 more in seven Twenty20 contests. He had the top average for USA in Twenty20s with 30.00 and was second in 50-over games with 55.64. He led USA with two centuries and produced USA’s highest score of the year in both 50-over and Twenty20 cricket.

Not only were his stats impressive, but the situations in which he delivered them made them even more special. When all the elements of his performances for USA are taken into account, he became an easy choice for the 2010 Radiant Info Cricketer of the Year.

In recognition of his achievement, Thyagarajan will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

Click here to read > How Aditya turned it around with a little help

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Junior Cricketer of the Year - Saqib Saleem

openingbat — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:42:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Junior Cricketer of the Year is Saqib Saleem.

Junior cricket in America received a big boost of confidence when USA’s U-19 team qualified for the 2010 ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. It was only the second time in history that USA had qualified for a World Cup at any level of cricket.

Through his performances in Canada at the U-19 World Cup Qualifier, Saleem was a major reason why USA was able to get to New Zealand. When he arrived in Queenstown, Saleem picked up right where he left off, producing a series of impressive bowling performances and when given an opportunity, solid contributions with the bat.

He finished as USA’s leading wicket-taker at the U-19 World Cup, taking 10 in six games, twice as many wickets as his next best teammate. The leg-spinner's 10 wickets were also good enough to tie for 9^th overall in the tournament and he took them at an average of 14.50. His best performance was in a match reduced to 41 overs against Zimbabwe where he took 4 for 38 in a tough 5-wicket loss.

With the bat, he finished fifth on USA in runs scored at the event. His best effort was 62 against Ireland, the fourth highest score ever produced in a single innings by a USA player at the U-19 World Cup.

In recognition of his achievement, Saleem will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Women's Cricketer of the Year - Indomatie Goordial-John

openingbat — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:05:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Women’s Cricketer of the Year is Indomatie Goordial-John.

Women’s cricket is fairly new to the American cricket landscape, but in just two years, USA has managed to establish itself as a dominant presence within the Americas Region. Indomatie Goordial-John was a major part of that dominance in 2010.

Goordial-John was the tournament MVP for her title-winning North East team at the USACA Women’s National Tournament last June in Cupertino, Calif. She was the leading scorer at the event, which included a top score of 75 against the Western Chargers.

She represented USA against Canada in Toronto in a three-match 50-over series to determine who would go on to represent the Americas Region at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh next November. Goordial-John was the leading scorer in the series with 119 runs, including a top score of 83, to lead USA to a sweep over Canada and clinch a spot at the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh.

Goordial-John also created suffocating pressure in the field with her off-spin. She took 2 for 37 in 22 overs during the three matches, never giving the opposition room to breathe. The player-coach just about did it all for the national team.

In recognition of her achievement, Goordial-John will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info. [Pic Courtesy: ICC - Bryan Vandenberg]

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Bowler of the Year - Kevin Darlington

openingbat — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:53:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Bowler of the Year is Kevin Darlington.

Even though he only appeared in three tournaments for USA in 2010, Darlington’s effect on the team was immense. He was a huge reason why USA was able to advance from Division Five to Division Three of the ICC World Cricket League.

At ICC WCL Division Five in Nepal, Darlington was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, an impressive feat for a fast bowler considering the tournament was played on dusty and spinning pitches. In fact, the next seven men after him on the list for most wickets were all spin bowlers. Darlington took 14 in six games at an average of 15.21.

Statistically, his best bowling return was 4 for 65 in a loss to Singapore. But his best performance overall was his menacing display in a must-win round-robin match against Nepal. Darlington took two of the first three wickets to fall to set the hosts back at 16 for 3. He kept the pressure on and helped restrict Nepal to 162 by finishing with 3 for 23 in 10 overs with four maidens as USA chased the target to win by 5 wickets.

At WCL Division Four in Italy, Darlington was just as effective, taking 10 wickets in six games at an average of 16.20. Two of his best performances came against USA’s two toughest opponents. Playing for the third time in three days, Darlington looked plenty fit while he tied down one end against Nepal, taking 1 for 17 in nine overs with two maidens. His pressure allowed Usman Shuja to attack successfully from the other end as USA won by 55 runs. In the tournament final against Italy, Darlington finished with 2 for 27 in 10 overs with two maidens to help USA win the Division Four title.

For the year, Darlington averaged two wickets per game in 50-over matches, finishing with 24 in 12 contests at an average of 15.63. He was the leading wicket-taker in the format for USA, beating Lennox Cush by one wicket even though Cush played in six more games than Darlington.

In recognition of his achievement, Darlington will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Batsman of the Year - Aditya Thyagarajan

openingbat — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:41:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Batsman of the Year is Aditya Thyagarajan.

The middle order batsman was USA’s highest scorer in 2010 with 612 runs in 19 50-over matches at an average of 55.64 and scored 762 runs overall. He turned in USA’s highest individual scores of the year in both the 50-over and Twenty20 formats. Against Argentina at the ICC Americas Division One Tournament in Bermuda, he scored his maiden century for USA, finishing with 159 in 119 balls, smashing 21 fours and three sixes. In his very first match of the year against Ireland at the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai, Thyagarajan posted 72 not out to give USA a measure of respectability in a heavy defeat.

Thyagarajan was a consistent producer throughout the year for the national team, always at or near the top of the run charts in every tournament USA participated in. He was USA’s third-highest scorer at WCL Division Five, WCL Division Four and the Twenty20 portion of the ICC Americas Division One; USA’s second-best scorer at the World Twenty20 Qualifier behind Carl Wright; and USA’s leading scorer in the 50-over competition of the ICC Americas Division One.

However, Thyagarajan was best known for being “The Iceman” and coming through in the clutch for USA. Among his more memorable performances under pressure were his 83 not out against Jersey and 18 not out against Nepal in the round-robin stage at WCL Division Five, his 27 not out against Canada in the final of the ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 and his 102 not out against Argentina at WCL Division Four.

Statistically, Thyagarajan was the most prolific batsman for USA in 2010. More importantly, he was the best when it mattered most.

In recognition of his achievement, Thyagarajan will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Twenty20 Player of the Year - Lennox Cush

openingbat — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:08:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Twenty20 Player of the Year is Lennox Cush.

Pic (Right): Lennox Cush in Italy [File Photo]

Cush has experienced a resurgence in the last few years through his performances in the Twenty20 format of the game. Both Guyana and USA have been beneficiaries of Cush’s all-round skills.

For the USA national team, Cush was the leading scorer in 2010 with 155 runs in nine matches at an average of 17.22. His best performance with the bat came in the semi-finals of the ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 championship against host team Bermuda. Cush scored 65 opening USA’s chase after they were set 138 to win. The next best score for USA was 25 not out by Rashard Marshall as America prevailed by 2 wickets.

Hours later in the final against Canada, Cush turned in his best bowling performance of the year. Opening the bowling with Timroy Allen, the pair decimated Canada’s top order to put USA on the path to victory. Cush finished with 2 for 10 in four overs as USA bowled Canada out for 100 before winning by 5 wickets to claim the inaugural Twenty20 title for the Americas Region.

For the year, Cush was the second highest wicket taker for USA with 9 at 25.11, proving his effectiveness as an opening bowler with his off-spin. He finished behind only Allen who had 12, while both men tied for the team’s best economy rate for bowlers who bowled at least one over per team game (minimum of nine overs for 2010). Each player only managed to concede 6.65 runs per over.

In recognition of his achievement, Cush will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards

USA Batting Stats for T20 matches

USA Bowling Stats for T20 matches

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Comeback Player of the Year - Sushil Nadkarni

openingbat — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:57:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Comeback Player of the Year is Sushil Nadkarni.

Pic (Right): Sushil Nadkarni top-scored against Tanzania with 68 not out including three boundaries and eight sixes. [File photo]

On August 1, 2009, Nadkarni suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon playing for the Central West Region at the Western Conference Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn. It typically takes at least six to nine months to completely rehabilitate such an injury. With USA scheduled to participate in two major tournaments early in 2010, he was in a race against time to be healthy enough to participate.

Nadkarni was rushed back into USA’s squad for the February tour to the UAE and Nepal, but it was clear he was not 100% fit. He struggled throughout the tour, but repaid the team’s faith in him with a heroic 57 not out in a must-win game to lead USA to a 5-wicket win over Nepal at ICC WCL Division Five, guaranteeing the team qualification to Division Four.

Once he returned to full fitness, Nadkarni was a menace to the opposition. At the ICC Americas Division One tournament in Bermuda during May and June, he scored USA’s quickest century of the year, notching 101 not out in 54 balls in a 10-wicket win over Cayman Islands.

In August, Nadkarni collected three Man of the Match awards at ICC WCL Division Four before taking away the award for Player of the Tournament as USA defeated host team Italy in the final to win the event. Nadkarni was the leading scorer for USA in Italy with 216 runs and finished third overall in the tournament.

In 2010, he averaged 59.11 in 14 innings for USA in 50-over matches, the highest average for USA during the year. He also finished third overall in total runs in 50-over matches for USA with 532 in 2010. The figures would be remarkable for any player, but especially one coming off a career-threatening injury. However, Nadkarni is arguably now fitter than ever and his performances in 2010 have made his comeback truly special.

In recognition of his achievement, Nadkarni will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info Cricket Awards

2010 Radiant Info USA Cricket Awards: Individual Performance of the Year - Lennox Cush

openingbat — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:47:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

By Peter Della Penna

DreamCricket.com is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s standout performers at the international level. The 2010 Radiant Info Individual Performance of the Year belongs to Lennox Cush for his 55-ball century against Italy in the final of ICC World Cricket League Division Four played in Bologna, Italy.

Pic (Right): Lennox Cush will receive a plaque and $250 gift certificate courtesy of New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info for his merciless 55-ball century against Italy. [File photo]

There were many brilliant solo efforts produced by USA players in 2010. Sushil Nadkarni scored a record 54-ball century against Cayman Islands in Bermuda. Aditya Thyagarajan posted the year’s highest score with 159 against Argentina in Bermuda. Thyagarajan and Rashard Marshall also scored vitally important centuries when USA was in trouble against Argentina in Italy. However, Cush’s performance tops them all because it came in a tournament final against a team that had previously beaten USA in the same event.

In USA’s first match against Italy at WCL Division Four, they were knocked back by the hosts, who posted a total of 212 batting first on their way to a convincing 51-run victory over the visitors. USA was aiming for revenge in a rematch at the final three days later. Batting first again, Italy was restricted to 185 in the final, but it still seemed that the match was evenly balanced especially after the way their bowlers performed in the round-robin contest.

Enter Cush, who was promoted up the order from his usual spot at number four to open USA’s chase in aggressive fashion, which is an understatement to say the least. Cush showed no respect and no mercy to Italy’s bowlers, tearing into them for 14 fours and four sixes, before he eventually departed for 101.

USA had been bowled out for 161 in 41.2 overs in their first matchup versus Italy. In round two, USA won by 8 wickets as they finished 188 for 2 in 21.4 overs, a stark contrast to how things ended up three days prior. USA’s dramatic turnaround was due in large part to Cush. He was an easy choice for Man of the Match in the Division Four final.

In recognition of his achievement, Cush will receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.

About the Radiant Info Cricket Awards