Ten Doeschate cleans up

10 September 2008

Ryan ten Doeschate impressed with bat and ball during the voting period

Essex and Holland all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate has become the Associate Player of the Year for 2008 at the LG ICC awards in Dubai.

During the 12-month voting period, ten Doeschate played four ODIs for Holland taking 10 wickets at an average of 9.50 and a highly-efficient economy rate of 2.87. He also averaged 31 with the bat at a strike-rate of 87.73.

In the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup competition, his batting average was 68.50 and included a high score of 146, as one of two centuries.

The 28-year-old said: “I’m delighted to have won this award and I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank the Dutch coaching staff, the management and my team-mates for their support.

“And also I’d like to offer a big thank you to the ICC for their continued support of Associate cricket.”

Sri Lanka’s new find Ajantha Mendis won the Emerging Player of the Year award, ahead of England’s Stuart Broad who came in second.

The mystery tweaker has exploded on to the international scene and taken the world by storm with his mesmerising brand of spin bowling. In just three Tests, the 23-year-old has taken an amazing 26 wickets at an average of 18.38 sending shockwaves through the world of cricket.

Mendis also played eight ODIs for Sri Lanka and in the process bagged 20 wickets at an average of just 10.25, making him the stand-out newcomer in top-flight cricket.

Accepting his award in Dubai from his Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Mendis said: “I am delighted to win the award. It is an honour to play for Sri Lanka and I hope to continue playing for my country for a long time to come.”

Ajantha Mendis picked up 26 wickets in just three Tests

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The Sri Lanka team was also named as the recipients of the Spirit of Cricket Award.

It is the second year in a row that Jayawardene’s team has won this award, which is presented to the team which, in the opinion of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and Match Referees has best conducted itself on the field within the spirit of the game.

Upon receiving the award on behalf of his team Jayawardene said: “The captain has to set the example but at the same time every player in the team has to take responsibility and play the game in the right spirit.

“You have to be aggressive and passionate when you play for your country – you have to want to win. But you don’t have to cross the line and be personal. There are ways of being aggressive while still controlling your anger and passion."

Simon Taufel also made it several wins in succession when he was named as Umpire of the Year for the fifth consecutive year.

The 37-year-old Australian was voted to the award by the 10 full member captains as well as the eight-man Emirates elite panel of ICC referees.

Receiving the award, Taufel said: “I’m delighted to win this award but I don’t set this as a goal at the start of a season. My goals are to be selected for finals and for major championships like the Champions Trophy or World Twenty20. If Ricky and the boys slip up eventually I might get the chance to do a final.

“Umpiring is essentially a mental exercise. For me it’s about being mentally fit and keeping at the top of my game.”

Taufel was presented the award by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat who said it was “remarkable” that Taufel had won the award for the fifth year in a row.