Smith named SA Cricketer of the Year

South African captain Graeme Smith capped a highly successful year as a batsman and captain by being named the SA Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year at the 2009 SA Cricket Awards on Tuesday. Batsman AB de Villiers was named the One-Day International Cricketer of the Year while JP Duminy picked up the Pro20 Cricketer of the Year award.

The allrounder Roelof van der Merwe edged out Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe to bag the SA Newcomer of the Year award. Since making his international debut against Australia this year, van der Merwe has established himself as an effective left-arm spinner. He has picked up 11 wickets in seven Twenty20 internationals, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 5.89. His initial Twenty20 success earned him an IPL contract and he was a regular in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side.

In the last 12 months, Smith has led South Africa to historic series wins in England and Australia. In 11 Tests in that period, he has scored 950 runs at 63.33 with four centuries, the most crucial being the one at Perth which set up the chase of 414. He also led the team to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, which included a five-match winning streak.

Duminy made a stirring comeback to the side with a match-winning half-century in the Perth Test and was one of the most valuable players during the tour of Australia. He was bought by Mumbai Indians for US$950,000 and was one of the key overseas players for the franchise during the IPL. In 19 ODIs over the last 12 months, Duminy has made 476 runs at 36.61. He also scored two half-centuries in the Twenty20 games in Australia.

de Villiers has also had an excellent year with the bat, making 987 runs in 12 matches at 61.68. He averaged 43.85 in 18 ODIs in that period and his Twenty20 exploits include an IPL hundred for the Delhi Daredevils. He was also in fine touch during the World Twenty20.

"It is most fitting that the SA Cricketer of the Year award goes to Graeme Smith, who led the Proteas to their best season ever," Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's chief executive, said. "The awards also take note of an impressive crop of young stars whose outstanding achievements on the international stage have ensured the continued success of the Proteas."

SA Cricketer of the Year: Graeme Smith
SA Newcomer of the Year: Roelof van der Merwe
Standard Bank One-Day International Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers
Standard Bank International Pro20 Cricketer of the Year: JP Duminy
Castle Test Cricketer of the Year: Graeme Smith
KFC Taste the Action Performance: JP Duminy
SA Players' Player of the Year: JP Duminy
SuperSport Fans' Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers

MTN Domestic Championship Cricketer of the Year: Roelof van der Merwe
Standard Bank Pro20 Cricketer of the Year: Charl Langeveldt
SuperSport Series Cricketer of the Year: Imraan Khan
Domestic Newcomer of the Year: Dane Vilas
SACA Most Valuable Player: Claude Henderson
Domestic Players' Player of the Year: Claude Henderson

Coach of the Year: Richard Pybus
Groundsman of the Year: Louis Kruger
Scorers' Association of the Year: Gauteng
Umpire of the Year: Marais Erasmus