Nick Compton is the only Englishman to make it into Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.
In its 150th year as cricket’s most famous publication, Wisden has named just one Englishman in its Five Cricketers of the Year whilst South Africa have three representatives.
Somerset opener Nick Compton is the only England player to make the list whilst Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn occupy places for the South Africans. West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels completes the group.
The prize is already favoured towards English players as the cricketers named on it are judged for their performances during summertime in England.
However, with South Africa enjoying such a dominant year in 2012 – which included a 2-0 series win against the Three Lions – it was only fair that their players bossed the Cricketer of the Year competition.
For Compton it is welcome recognition after his form with the bat saw him amass 1,494 first-class runs for Somerset last summer and cement his place in the England Test side.
The 29-year-old blossomed into an international cricketer fairly late in his career, following a strong family tradition that has produced no less than four professional cricketers – most famously his grandfather Denis who played 78 times for England.
However, the feats of South Africa were always likely to steal the headlines with the side rising to the No.1 Test side in the world and Amla, Steyn and Kallis topping the ICC batting, bowling and all-rounder lists respectively.
As for Samuels, his inclusion is a small piece of positive news for the West Indies as they endure one of the most barren spells in their illustrious cricket history.
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