LONDON – Devendra Bishoo and Stafanie Taylor kept the West Indies flag flying high, and have both been recognized for their outstanding form inside the last year, when they scooped honours on Monday at the International Cricket Council Awards.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo won the Emerging Player of the Year award, and all-rounder Taylor won the Women’s Player of the Year.
The 25-year-old Bishoo played in five Test matches in the voting period – August 11 last year, and August 3 this year – and took 21 wickets with an average of 35.42.
He also collected 19 scalps at 21.57 apiece in 11 One-day Internationals, and another five wickets at 9.60 each in two Twenty20 Internationals.
Bishoo said the award came as a bit of a surprise and dedicated it to his father Mohanlall, who died when he was eight years old.
“I could not believe it when I was nominated . . . but to win it feels great,” he said in an official release through the West Indies Cricket Board.
“I’m very happy. I would like to dedicate the award to my father. He played a great role in my life, and encouraged me to play cricket. After he died, I made a promise to always give my best and reach for the top.”
Bishoo, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was the top choice of the 25-member voting academy, finishing ahead of teammate Darren Bravo, and the Pakistan pair of Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali against whom he played in the home series earlier this year.
“I hope I can continue to represent the West Indies with pride and improve my bowling and keep taking as many international wickets as I can,” said Bishoo.
He added: “It has been a challenging start to my international career so far, but it has been an enjoyable start.
“The highlights so far have been playing in the World Cup, playing my first Test match on home soil, and playing against India. I have learned a lot in a short space of time, and I want to continue learning.”
After near misses in the last few years, the 20-year-old Taylor set herself the goal of winning the award, and has accomplished the task.
She played 10 ODIs during the voting period, scoring 610 runs at an average of 76.25, and claimed 15 wickets with her off-spin.
Taylor also gathered 49 runs and scalped five wickets in T20I in the period, helping her to take the award ahead of England duo Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway, as well as last year’s winner Shelley Nitschke of Australia.
“I was not totally surprized, and it feels really good to be recognized in this way,” said Taylor. “I worked hard and I played well, and the most important thing is that I tried to contribute to the team all the time.
“I want to say a big thank you to my team-mates and the support staff of the West Indies Women’s and the Jamaica Women’s teams who have been offering encouragement all the time.
“I also want to thank my family for all the support they continue to give me and I hope I can continue to represent the West Indies with pride.”
She was unable to attend the ceremony to collect her award in person due to finishing the home series against Pakistan in which West Indies Women were dominant, although she was a little below her best.
Taylor is the most successful West Indies women’s player in history. Overall, she has made 1 468 runs at an average of 43.17 and taken 50 wickets at 16.70 apiece in 40 ODIs, and in 24 T20 Internationals, she has made 661 runs at 34.78 and collected 20 wickets at 19.35 each. (CMC)
