New Zealand Cricket has extended warm congratulations to BLACKCAPS fast bowler Tim Southee who has picked up the Twenty20 Performance of the Year at LC ICC Awards 2011.
Southee took five wickets in eight balls, including a hat-trick to help the BLACKCAPS beat Pakistan by five wickets at Eden Park on Boxing Day 2010.
His impressive figures of five for 18 saw him shortlisted alongside England’s Tim Bresnan who took four wickets for three runs against Pakistan in Cardiff; South Africa’s JP Duminy who hit 96 not out in 54 balls against Zimbabwe in Kimberley and Australia’s Shane Watson who struck 59 runs in 31 balls against England in Adelaide.
Southee was unable to attend the awards but upon hearing the news he said: “I’m sorry I’m unable to attend the awards and it’s a great privilege to accept the ICC Twenty 20 Performance of the Year. Looking at the nominees it’s a great achievement to have even been nominated and to win it is something I will never forget.
“Tim’s performance in taking five wickets was magnificent,” commented NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan. “I’m delighted Tim has been recognised in such a way.”
It is the fourth year the award has been running with team mate Brendon McCullum lifting the trophy last year in recognition of his 116 not out against Australia at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
The awards ceremony was held in London overnight. Other award winners include Jonathan Trott (England) - ICC Player of the Year, Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) - ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Alastair Cook (England) – ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – ICC ODI Player of the Year.
That period includes such high-profile events as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the ICC Intercontinental Cup final, several ICC World Cricket Leagues as well as several bilateral Test and ODI series.
The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its eighth year and this year it will be held in London, England. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007 and 2009), Dubai (2008) and Bengaluru (2010).
