The Jury
Numbers mean something in cricket, but not everything
Wisden Cricinfo staff
29-Oct-2003
Numbers mean something in cricket, but not everything. The winners of the Electrolux Wisden International Awards will be chosen not by adding up the numbers, but through qualitative assessment by a jury comprising some of biggest names in cricket. The panel members are:
Michael Atherton
Gritty, cussed and obdurate, Atherton played for England as an opening batsman in 115 Tests and 54 ODIS between 1989 and 2001, and captained England 54 times in Tests. His final Test match average of 37.70 does not indicate the high respect held for him by the best fast bowlers of his generation - Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath among them - with whom he fought many fascinating tussles throughout the 1990s, of which the best-known is his monumental 185 not out, made in 643 minutes, to save a Test against South Africa in 1995-96. He is now a columnist for The Sunday Telegraph.
Gritty, cussed and obdurate, Atherton played for England as an opening batsman in 115 Tests and 54 ODIS between 1989 and 2001, and captained England 54 times in Tests. His final Test match average of 37.70 does not indicate the high respect held for him by the best fast bowlers of his generation - Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath among them - with whom he fought many fascinating tussles throughout the 1990s, of which the best-known is his monumental 185 not out, made in 643 minutes, to save a Test against South Africa in 1995-96. He is now a columnist for The Sunday Telegraph.
Richie Benaud
The long and distinguished second phase of Benaud's cricketing career - the legendary commentator made his debut on Australian television in 1963 - has partly obscured his onfield achievements. Amongst the best legspinners of all time, Benaud represented Australia in 63 Tests between 1952 and 1964, taking 248 wickets at just over 27, and making over two thousand Test runs, with three hundreds. He also captained Australia with great distinction from 1958 to 1964, winning back the Ashes from England in 1958-59 and holding them till his retirement.
The long and distinguished second phase of Benaud's cricketing career - the legendary commentator made his debut on Australian television in 1963 - has partly obscured his onfield achievements. Amongst the best legspinners of all time, Benaud represented Australia in 63 Tests between 1952 and 1964, taking 248 wickets at just over 27, and making over two thousand Test runs, with three hundreds. He also captained Australia with great distinction from 1958 to 1964, winning back the Ashes from England in 1958-59 and holding them till his retirement.
Michael Holding
His limber, graceful run-up, lithe action, and great speed earned him 249 Test wickets, and the sobriquet 'Whispering Death'. He played 60 Test matches and 121 one-day internationals, and was a feared member of the West Indian pace quartet for much of the '70s and early '80s. His deep baritone is now one of the most easily recognized voices in television commentary.
His limber, graceful run-up, lithe action, and great speed earned him 249 Test wickets, and the sobriquet 'Whispering Death'. He played 60 Test matches and 121 one-day internationals, and was a feared member of the West Indian pace quartet for much of the '70s and early '80s. His deep baritone is now one of the most easily recognized voices in television commentary.
Ranjan Madugalle
He played for Sri Lanka in 21 Tests and 63 ODIs between 1979 and 1988, part of nearly every game that Sri Lanka played during their formative years in the international arena. He also captained Sri Lanka twice, and after his retirement served two spells as national selector. He was the youngest to be appointed to the post of ICC Match Referee in 1994, and his handling of difficult issues as an administrator has, by general consensus, been as assured as his batting was attractive.
He played for Sri Lanka in 21 Tests and 63 ODIs between 1979 and 1988, part of nearly every game that Sri Lanka played during their formative years in the international arena. He also captained Sri Lanka twice, and after his retirement served two spells as national selector. He was the youngest to be appointed to the post of ICC Match Referee in 1994, and his handling of difficult issues as an administrator has, by general consensus, been as assured as his batting was attractive.
Rameez Raja
An elegant and dashing opening batsman, Raja represented Pakistan in 57 Tests and 198 ODIs between 1983 and 1997. He was a key member of the Pakistan side that won the World Cup in Australia in 1992, a tournament in which he was the fifth-highest run-getter. He captained Pakistan briefly, and only five other Pakistani cricketers have bettered his final aggregate of 5841 runs in ODIs. Rameez is now chief executive of the PCB.
An elegant and dashing opening batsman, Raja represented Pakistan in 57 Tests and 198 ODIs between 1983 and 1997. He was a key member of the Pakistan side that won the World Cup in Australia in 1992, a tournament in which he was the fifth-highest run-getter. He captained Pakistan briefly, and only five other Pakistani cricketers have bettered his final aggregate of 5841 runs in ODIs. Rameez is now chief executive of the PCB.
Barry Richards
One of the finest exponents of batsmanship that the game has seen, Richards's Test career was cut short after just four matches because of South Africa's isolation from international cricket. He made his name nevertheless as a prolific opening batsman for Natal, Hampshire, South Australia, and for the Rest of the World in two seasons of WSC cricket, making over 28,000 first-class runs with 80 centuries. He is now a television commentator, and a columnist for Wisden Asia Cricket magazine.
One of the finest exponents of batsmanship that the game has seen, Richards's Test career was cut short after just four matches because of South Africa's isolation from international cricket. He made his name nevertheless as a prolific opening batsman for Natal, Hampshire, South Australia, and for the Rest of the World in two seasons of WSC cricket, making over 28,000 first-class runs with 80 centuries. He is now a television commentator, and a columnist for Wisden Asia Cricket magazine.
Ravi Shastri
Rock-solid, and fiercely competitive, Shastri's all-round skills were integral to Indian cricket all throughout the 80s and the early 90s. Shastri began his career as a left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman, but in time became one of India's most dependable opening batsmen, a slot from which he made his top Test match score of 206 against Australia at Sydney. In all he made 3830 Test runs and took 151 wickets in 80 Test matches. Shastri is now a television commentator.
Rock-solid, and fiercely competitive, Shastri's all-round skills were integral to Indian cricket all throughout the 80s and the early 90s. Shastri began his career as a left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman, but in time became one of India's most dependable opening batsmen, a slot from which he made his top Test match score of 206 against Australia at Sydney. In all he made 3830 Test runs and took 151 wickets in 80 Test matches. Shastri is now a television commentator.
Ian Smith
He played for New Zealand in 63 Tests and 98 ODIs between 1980 and 1992, finishing 14th on the list of wicketkeepers with the most Test match dismissals, with 176. Indian fans will remember him well for the 173 he made batting at no.9 against India at Auckland in 1990 - still the highest-ever score made by a Test batsman batting in that position. He is now one of New Zealand's leading TV commentators.
He played for New Zealand in 63 Tests and 98 ODIs between 1980 and 1992, finishing 14th on the list of wicketkeepers with the most Test match dismissals, with 176. Indian fans will remember him well for the 173 he made batting at no.9 against India at Auckland in 1990 - still the highest-ever score made by a Test batsman batting in that position. He is now one of New Zealand's leading TV commentators.
They will be joined by two of Wisden's own: Steven Lynch, editor of Wisden Cricinfo; and Sambit Bal, editor of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine and Wisden Cricinfo, India.