Red carpets, second takes and a starry night

The red carpet into the ICC Awards was an abbreviated platform. Barely the length of a pitch, it directed the players into a cluster of photographers and television crews usually saved for big-budget film premieres. Cricketers-cum-actors turned the spotlights, providing the glitz to an already glamorous concept.

As the ICC waited for Friday's Super Test, which will determine the validity of the World XI versus world champions battle, it staged the game's Oscars in a Sydney hotel rising into the sky like a bat handle. There was much fanfare, piano-playing and made-for-television hosting, including a couple of second takes from Mark Nicholas and Ehsan Mani, the ICC president. Riveting cricket has not been the only thing expanded in the new millennium.

A proliferation of award nights have also joined in with a public brief to recognise the players and the added hope of spotting a commercial success. The ICC logos and those of its principal sponsors draped over the function room, and the sea of deep blue in the backdrop shouted the importance of the event.

For the players, who wore lounge suits alongside guests in black tie or national dress, it was an occasion to wind down, start again or continue the build-up. The Australians in the Test squad promptly left at the end of the ceremony while a couple of the World XI stayed for the after-party as others signed off on a disappointing one-day campaign.

Andrew Flintoff has already had enough of celebrity following the Ashes. He looked in need of a good sleep during the prize-giving dinner but could not turn off his attraction meter. Asked to collect England's Spirit of Cricket award in Michael Vaughan's absence, he sat motionless as if contemplating a desert trek or 35-over days. "Next year we might have to toughen up a bit," he said of the fair-play recognition and then unintentionally had the room laughing when responding to Nicholas's question about celebrating with "I've not had a drop for a few days". He really is on the A-list when a denial causes a stir.

Another global figure was remembered when Sunil Gavaskar spoke briefly about the start of the 1971-72 Rest of the World tour and Tony Greig and Hylton Ackerman flying in from South Africa. Landing in Adelaide, they were greeted by an official who Greig later asked if he played cricket. "Yes, I'm Don Bradman."

The current superstars sat near the front after taking their red-carpet steps; the second tier of umpires and match referees were stationed at the back alongside the sound equipment. Australia's players, who were led again by Ricky Ponting, were more relaxed on their home territory and generally walked firmly as their opponents meandered.

Shane Warne, Shoaib Akhtar, Muttiah Muralitharan and Rahul Dravid, whose wife had given birth earlier in the day, arrived on their own. Kumar Sangakkara's partner looked stunning wrapped in a traditional Sri Lankan dress and the jewellery of the dates of Jacques Kallis and Brett Lee sparkled. The model Caprice Bourett managed to upstage her cricketer, which was quite an achievement considering he was Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen captured much of the subsequent glare as he won two individual gongs and admitted to being "flattered". He wasn't quite speechless and neither was Richie Benaud, who cleverly re-announced the main award for the Player of the Year. "Why don't I try this again," he said. "The Players of the Year are Jacques Kallis and Andrew Flintoff." A shared award, a new car each, but more attention for Flintoff.