Cricket West Indies (CWI) has lauded the West Indies players named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Teams of the Year for 2022.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday revealed the Men’s Test Team and ODI Team of the Year 2022.
Three West Indies players were announced by the ICC on Tuesday in the annual awards.
Kraigg Brathwaite is the only West Indian cricketer to make it to the test team. while wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph earned spots in the One-Day International (ODI) Team of the Year.
Brathwaite hit a half-century in each of the first two Tests against England as well as a marathon 160 in the first innings of the second Test, in an individual performance that will have given his opponents sleepless nights.
The right-hander scored 94 and 51 in the first innings of each of the Test wins over Bangladesh in June, and then showed his class with 174 runs in the match at Perth against Australia in November, including a superb rearguard 110.
In total Brathwaite hit 687 runs in 14 innings in the year, averaging 62.45
Hope had a brilliant year in 2022, being at his consistent best for the West Indies in the 50-over format.
Hope did not get off to the greatest of starts in 2022 but in typical fashion started to grind out runs in the latter half. He finished the year with 709 runs, which include three hundred and two fifties, at an average of 35.45.
The highlight was his knock of 115 in his 100th appearance against India at Queens Park Oval in July.
Joseph also developed from a highly-rated prospect to a reliable performance with the ball for the West Indies in the year 2022. Not lacking in pace but sometimes in accuracy, Joseph worked on his shortcomings and became a fearsome prospect for the batters to face.
Joseph played 17 matches and scalped 27 wickets at an average of 25.70 and a strike-rate of 33.4. He was also miserly with an economy rate of 4.61, with best figures of 3/36.
“Captain Kraigg Brathwaite continued to lead from the front with a number of world-class batting displays, which characterize his composed and courageous style of play,” said CWI President Ricky Skerritt in praising the West Indies Test captain.
“The major achievement was leading the team to victory over England to capture the Richards Botham trophy which brought glory to West Indies fans.
“Shai Hope also demonstrated his immense talent in front the stumps and agility behind the wickets. He too showcased an exceptionally high level of skill, and a great sense of occasion, with a remarkable century to mark his 100th appearance against India in Trinidad.”
In his praise of Joseph, Skerritt said, “Alzarri I Joseph emerged as the leader of the bowling attack in ODIs and was consistent and persistent all year in all three formats.
“He has matured from an exciting young speedster to a truly world-class pace bowler and is reaping the rewards for the hard work he has been putting in off the field. We applaud all three for their outstanding performances in 2022 and also wish them continued success and growth in 2023 and beyond.”