Players of 2004

[Loony BoB]

Expanding on Marc's thread, but more for players than moments... I've not watched all too much cricket this year, so this is mostly only from what I've seen...

Best Player: (I don't feel like putting one player down, but I guess some people might...)
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: ...probably Glen McGrath. Tough call, though.
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Too close to call between many keepers. I don't include batting for this one, so yeah.
Best Fielder: Paul Collingwood, narrowly beating Ponting, Harris and Powell (I've only seen one or two games involving Symonds, and he's not been better than Collingwood in those games - although from what I hear, he's done magnificent things, and had I seen them he may have got this one)
Best Captain: Stephen Fleming
Best Team: Australia (well, that was a no-brainer)
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Daniel Vettori
Best Opener: I've not seen all too many Aussie games this year, but I'm still going to have to give it to Hayden - not only for yet another thousand runs in the year but also for getting darn close to 1000 runs in ODI's, too.
Best Big Hitter: Andrew Flintoff, although that's only from what I've seen - hadn't seen enough of Gilchrist, Sehwag, Afridi etc. to say they compared. Oram, Dwayne Smith and Harmison all came close.
Best Slow-Goer: Mark Richardson
Best Tailender: Harmison, for those brilliant sixes... Only JUST beats McGrath with his 50, though.
Best Seamer: Glen McGrath
Best Swinger: Matthew Hoggard
Best Spinner: Shane Warne
Luckiest Player: - (Unsure)
Unluckiest Player: Brendon McCullum
Most Deserved Drop: Craig McMillan
Should Have Been Dropped: - (Unsure)
Biggest Achievement: Brian Lara. Easy.

Predicted Player of 2005: -
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Andrew Strauss
Predicted Bowler of 2005: I'm actually tempted to say Dwayne Bravo... yeah, why not. Dwayne Bravo, although that's just to be different.
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Brendon McCullum (only patriosm seperated him from the rest in this prediction )
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Andrew Flintoff. In my opinion, too good not to continue his form.

 

[Langeveldt]

Luckiest player, probably Thami Tsolekile.. People of my standard don't usually get to play test cricket

 

[Beleg]

Luckiest Player: Kamran Akmal

 

[Loony BoB]

Was also tempted to put down Tresco for Best Captain for a moment there, even though I'm a New Zealander.

 

[savill]

Best Player: Hard to say...
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Glen McGrath
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Adam Gilchrist
Best Fielder: Paul Collingwood
Best Captain:Michael Vaughn
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality:Andrew Flintoff
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Damien Martyn/Kasprowicz
Best Opener: Andrew Strauss/Justin Langer
Best Big Hitter: Adam Gilchrist
Best Slow-Goer: Mark Richardson
Best Tailender: Jason Gillespie
Best Seamer: Glen McGrath
Best Swinger: Gillespie
Best Spinner: Anil Kumble
Luckiest Player: - Mark Butcher
Unluckiest Player: Ian Bell
Most Deserved Drop: Jimmy Anderson
Should Have Been Dropped: - Mark Butcher
Biggest Achievement: McGrath's 50

Predicted Player of 2005: - Danish Kaneria
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Michael Clarke
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Simon Jones
Predicted Keeper of 2005: AB De Villiers
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Glenn McGrath

 

[Langeveldt]

Mark Butcher, luckiest player???

You seen how many times he has been injured?

 

[savill]

Well, to get picked ahead of some of the players on the South African tour such as Ian Bell, but fair point, I didn't think of that!

 

[a massive zebra]

Best Player: Jacques Kallis
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Anil Kumble
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Chris Read
Best Fielder: Ricky Ponting
Best Captain: Michael Vaughan
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Daniel Vettori
Best Opener: Virender Sehwag
Best Big Hitter: Andrew Flintoff
Best Slow-Goer: Rahul Dravid
Best Tailender: Glenn McGrath
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Anil Kumble
Luckiest Player: Shane Warne
Unluckiest Player: Kevin Pieterson
Most Deserved Drop: Hannan Sarkar
Should Have Been Dropped: Simon Jones
Biggest Achievement: Brian Lara 400*

Predicted Player of 2005: Rahul Dravid/Damien Martyn
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Rahul Dravid/Damien Martyn
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Mushrafe Mortaza
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Tatenda Taibu
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Kumar Sangakarra

 

[ReallyCrazy]

Best Player: Andrew Flintoff
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Glenn McGrath
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Adam Gilchrist
Best Fielder: Ricky Ponting
Best Captain: Michael Vaughan
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Michael Kasprowicz (sp?)
Best Opener: Virender Sehwag
Best Big Hitter: Virender Sehwag
Best Slow-Goer: Rahul Dravid
Best Tailender: Not sure of this
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Anil Kumble
Luckiest Player: The SA keeper...don't know his name
Unluckiest Player: Michael Bevan
Most Deserved Drop: Parthiv Patel
Should Have Been Dropped: Simon Jones
Biggest Achievement: Brian Lara 400*

Predicted Player of 2005: Andrew Flintoff
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Rahul Dravid/Damien Martyn
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Glenn McGrath
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Adam Gilchrist
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Andrew Flintoff

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

Best Player:Jacques Kallis
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Glenn McGrath
Best All-Rounder:Not sure...
Best Keeper:Not sure
Best Fielder:Chris Harris (can he even drop a catch?)
Best Captain:Stephen Fleming
Best Team:Australia
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Daniel Vettori
Best Opener: Virender Sehwag
Best Big Hitter:Chris Cairns
Best Slow-Goer:Mark Richardson
Best Tailender: Mills
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Anil Kumble
Luckiest Player:Not sure
Unluckiest Player: Michael Bevan
Most Deserved Drop: Parthiv Patel
Should Have Been Dropped:dunno
Biggest Achievement: Brian Lara 400*

Predicted Player of 2005:That's a biggie..
Predicted Batsman of 2005:Not sure
Predicted Bowler of 2005:Mcgrath
Predicted Keeper of 2005:Mcullum, he seems to be only getting better
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005:Flintoff, Oram


I tried my best.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Best Player: Andrew Flintoff. no-brainer really, just hope I don't hear the sound of a career peaking
Best Batsmen: Jacques Kallis. another no-brainer. Text-book correctness & average for 04 of over 80. When in flow doesn't even look like getting out
Best Bowler: Glenn McGrath. superb return from the big fella. Although, as an Englishmen with Ashes looming, it's pretty hateful too.
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff. see best player. arguably only genuine all-rounder in world cricket
Best Keeper: Kumar Sangakarra. mainly for his batting, but 20 catches & 4 stumpings ok return
Best Fielder: Paul Collingwood. Just shades it from Gibbs. Superb athleticism & good pair of mitts.
Best Captain: Adam Gilchrist. For India. More instinctive than the overly-cautious Punter
Best Team: Australia. Duhhh
Best Personality: Rob Key. Witty & self-effacing. Shame we all know where nice guys finish...
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss. Who else? Fastest Englishman to 1000 runs since WW2. FEC.
Best Return to Form: Ashley Giles. Ok. Not strictly a return, more a "Didn't know he could do that". But good to see; another decent fella doing well.
Best Opener: Justin Langer. Nearly gave it to Strauss, but Langer top test run maker for 04.
Best Big Hitter: Andrew Flintoff. Wonderful in full flow. Just a time & a place, eh Fred?
Best Slow-Goer: Mark Richardson. Utter grafter. At times he looked shotless, but boy does he prize his wicket.
Best Tailender: Jason Gillespe. most improved lower-order player. Just get a haircut Pikey!!
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath. See best bowler.
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz. Just what world cricket needs, another quality Aussie bowler.
Best Spinner: Shane Warne. I know, I hate him too. But 70 wickets at slightly lower average than Kumble.
Luckiest Player: Darren Lehmann. Now finally dropped. The finest team in the world do not need a casually racist tubby lardster in his mid-30s with Love & Katich in the wings
Unluckiest Player: Simon Jones. Seems to bowl great spells for v little reward.
Most Deserved Drop: Parthiv Patel. Can't keep, can't bat
Should Have Been Dropped: Mark Butcher. 32 now. Too late for encouraging 50s & lapses in concentration.
Biggest Achievement: Brian Lara 400* World record, innit? Probably cost Windies the game tho...

Predicted Player of 2005: Kevin Pietersen. A shot in the dark & only if he can overcome his shyness!
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Jacques Kallis. stick with the form horse
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Glenn McGrath. Ditto. Ashes & out I reckon.
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Adam Gilchrist.average year with the bat in 04, but still averaged 38. He'll be back to add 300 with the tail for The Ashes
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Dwanye Bravo. Batting needs work, but has everything you look for.

 

[age_master]

Best Player: Flintoff
Best Batsmen: Martyn
Best Bowler: McGrath
Best All-Rounder: Flintoff
Best Keeper: Gilly
Best Fielder: Ponting
Best Captain: Gilly
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality: Dizzy
Best Newcomer: Clarke (pips Strauss with that 6/9)
Best Return to Form: Martyn
Best Opener: Langer
Best Big Hitter: Gilchrist
Best Slow-Goer: Dizzy
Best Tailender: Dizzy
Best Seamer: McGrath
Best Swinger: Kaspa
Best Spinner: Warne
Luckiest Player: Hauritz
Unluckiest Player: Katich
Most Deserved Drop: dunno
Should Have Been Dropped: Shoaib
Biggest Achievement: Martyn conquoring Sri Lanka and India

Predicted Player of 2005: Gilchrist
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Clarke
Predicted Bowler of 2005: McGrath
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Gilchrist
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Dizzy

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

Best big hitter has to be Cairns. He's hit over 30 sixes this year.

Best Tailender could be Kyle Mills. Remember his 44* off 26 (I think) deliveries? Awesome!

 

[Marcus]

Best Player: Andrew Flintoff
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Steve Harmisson
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Gerriat Jones
Best Fielder: Ricky Ponting
Best Captain: Michael Vaughan
Best Team: England
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Rob Key
Best Opener: Andrew Strauss
Best Big Hitter: Ian Blackwell (for somerset)
Best Slow-Goer: Rahul Dravid
Best Tailender: Jones or Harmisson
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Warne
Luckiest Player:Strauss
Unluckiest Player: Nasser Hussain
Most Deserved Drop: James Anderson
Should Have Been Dropped: Mark Butcher
Biggest Achievement: Englands unbeaten 2004

Predicted Player of 2005: Andrew Flintoff
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Strauss and Ponting
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Glenn McGrath
Predicted Keeper of 2005: G. Jones
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Andrew Flintoff

 

[SIX AND OUT]

TEST : BEST OF 2004

BEST PLAYER: Jaques Kallis / Damien Martyn / Andrew Flintoff
BEST BATSMAN: Jaques Kallis / Damian Martyn / Justin Langer
BEST BOWLER: Steve Harmison / Glenn McGrath / Anil Kumble
BEST ALL-ROUNDER: Jaques Kallis / Andrew Flintoff / Jacob Oram
BEST KEEPER: Adam Gilchrist / Kumar Sangakkara / Geriant Jones
BEST FIELDER: Michael Clarke / Ricky Ponting / Matthew Hayden
BEST CAPTAIN: Adam Gilchrist / Michael Vaughan / Ricky Ponting
BEST TEAM: Australia / England / ???
BEST PERSONALITY: Jason Gillespie / Glenn McGrath / Shoaib Akhtar
BEST NEWCOMER: Michael Clarke / Andrew Strauss / ???
BEST RETURN TO FORM: Damian Martyn / Michael Kasprowicz / Ashley Giles
BEST OPENER: Justin Langer / Andrew Strauss / Matthew Hayden
BEST BIG-HITTER: Adam Gilchrist / Virender Sehwag / Andrew Flintoff
BEST SLOW-GOER: Jason Gillespie / Abdur Razzaq / Mark Richardson
BEST TAILENDER: Jason Gillespie / Glenn McGrath / ???
BEST SEAMER: Glenn McGrath
BEST SWINGER: Michael Kasprowicz
BEST SPINNER: Anil Kumble
LUCKIEST PLAYER: Michael Kasprowicz (to get back in the side - well deserved)
UNLUCKIEST PLAYER: Brad Hodge / Michael Bevan / Andy Bichel
MOST DESERVED DROPPED: Darren Lehmann
SHOULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED: ???
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: Brian Lara 400* / Glenn McGrath 61 / Glenn McGrath 8-24

 

[The Baconator]

Best Player: Kallis
Best Batsman: Kallis
Best Bowler:McGrath
Best All-Rounder: Flintoff
Best Keeper: Sangakkara
Best Fielder: Ponting
Best Captain: Fleming
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality: Shoaib Akhtar
Best Newcomer: Strauss
Best Return to Form: Martyn
Best Opener: Langer, just from Strauss
Best Big Hitter: Flintoff
Best Slow-Goer: Mark Richardson
Best Tailender: Gillespie
Best Seamer: McGrath
Best Swinger: Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Kumble
Luckiest Player: Hauritz
Unluckiest Player: Katich
Most Deserved Drop: Patel
Should Have Been Dropped: don't know
Biggest Achievement: Lara's 400.

Predicted Player of 2005: can't say
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Ponting
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Pollock
Predicted Keeper of 2005:McCullum
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Bravo/Watson

 

[Langeveldt]

Best Player: Jacques Kallis
Best Batsman: Jacques Kallis
Best Bowler: Glenn McGrath
Best All-Rounder: Andrew Flintoff
Best Keeper: Adam Gilchrist
Best Fielder: Andrew Symonds
Best Captain: Michael Vaughan
Best Team: Australia
Best Personality: Shane Warne
Best Newcomer: Andrew Strauss
Best Return to Form: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Opener: Justin Langer
Best Big Hitter: Andrew Symonds
Best Slow-Goer: Rahul Dravid
Best Tailender: Jason Gillespie
Best Seamer: Glenn McGrath
Best Swinger: Michael Kasprowicz
Best Spinner: Anil Kumble
Luckiest Player: Thami Tsolekile
Unluckiest Player: Michael Bevan
Most Deserved Drop: Thami Tsolekile and Parthiv Patel
Should Have Been Dropped: Hashim Amla
Biggest Achievement: Englands rise

Predicted Player of 2005: Abraham de Villiers
Predicted Batsman of 2005: Jacques Kallis
Predicted Bowler of 2005: Glenn McGrath
Predicted Keeper of 2005: Adam Gilchrist
Predicted All-Rounder of 2005: Jacques Kallis

 

[Richard]

Too many fields!!!!
(Some I might add that I place little or no value on)

 

[marc71178]

Best big hitter has to be Cairns. He's hit over 30 sixes this year.

And I wager Flintoff has more.

 

[benchmark00]

And I wager Flintoff has more.

And i wager that gilly can hit furthur and harder than both of them, maybe combined..!