2009 year-end review

The Cricinfo Awards 2009

Bangladesh
With heads held high
Two Test wins, 14 in ODIs, an inspiring captain, and a promising newcomer made Bangladesh's 2009 their most successful 12 months ever. By Abu Choudhury

England
From chaos to a happy place
England's year began with the Moores-Pietersen spat and the 51 all out and went on to take in the Ashes win and a marked improvement in ODI cricket. By Andrew Miller

India
Hot in Tests, not in short formats
India scaled the peaks in the few Tests they played, but it wasn't all sunny in limited-overs cricket. By Sidharth Monga

Sri Lanka
A whimper not a bang
They became the No. 2 Test side, but finished the year struggling to hold their footing as key players went missing. By Jamie Alter

West Indies
Sagas, strife and silver linings
West Indies started the year on a high, plunged into crisis, and seemed to revive at the tail-end. By Vaneisa Baksh

Women's cricket
A year to savour
Women's cricket, led by the England side, broke new ground and found new followers this year. By Jenny Roesler

Zimbabwe
Hope floats
The return of former players to decision-making roles and the revamp of the domestic structure spell better days ahead. By Martin Williamson

The Associates
Big brother's indifference hurts the little guys
Little help from those at the top, even less from sponsors, and the ICC's bizarre decisions have left most of the Associates looking at a bleak 2010. By Martin Williamson

Australia
Ashes anguish, one-day joys
The fall to No. 4, injuries to key bowlers, Ponting's return to mortality: 2009 was mostly filled with gloom. By Peter English

Pakistan
The darkest year
The Lahore attacks overshadowed every other crisis Pakistan cricket had ever been through, but the World Twenty20 win and two teenagers eased the pain a touch. By Osman Samiuddin

New Zealand
Wins, losses, injuries and Dan
New Zealand had issues with their top order, found a middle-order core group, and lost Shane Bond. Through it all they had one constant. By Sidharth Monga

South Africa
The harsh light of day
After their magical 2008, South Africa were brought rudely back down to earth last year. By Telford Vice