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.