The International Cricket Council (ICC) will announce the best cricketers of the decade across all three formats as a one-off edition of their annual awards ceremony.
There’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to stars to pick from, but we’d like to know who you’ve got your money on.
While the award winners will be announced later this month during an exhibition show broadcast on ICC digital channels, it’s never too early to speculate who might win and more importantly, who’s been snubbed.
Keep in mind, the nominees have been selected based on a sustained level of play lasting at least five years between January 1, 2011 and October 7, 2020.
Votes will be tallied according to a three, two, one system with a 90 per cent share coming from a pre-selected voting academy and a further ten per cent from fans. So who’s earned your three points over the last ten years?
ICC male cricketer of the decade
This accolade is given to the best overall performer across all three cricketing formats in men’s international matches – Twenty-20s, ODIs and Tests. A lot of the names on this list aren’t surprising, but should some more recently retired cricketers been given the nod instead?
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ravichandran Ashwin | India |
| B | Virat Kohli | India |
| C | Joe Root | England |
| D | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka |
| E | Steve Smith | Australia |
| F | AB de Villiers | South Africa |
| G | Kane Williamson | New Zealand |
ICC female cricketer of the decade
Likewise, this is handed out to the greatest overall women’s Twenty-20, ODI and Test player during international performances.
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | Suzie Bates | New Zealand |
| B | Meg Lanning | Australia |
| C | Ellyse Perry | Australia |
| D | Mithali Raj | India |
| E | Sarah Taylor | England |
| F | Stafanie Taylor | West Indies |
ICC men’s test cricketer of the decade
For teams that have spent a substantial amount of time atop the ICC test rankings over the past decade, India only have one nominee, while South Africa received none.
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | James Anderson | England |
| B | Rangana Herath | Sri Lanka |
| C | Virat Kohli | India |
| D | Joe Root | England |
| E | Yasir Shah | Pakistan |
| F | Steve Smith | Australia |
| G | Kane Williamson | New Zealand |
ICC men’s ODI cricketer of the decade
In a remarkable achievement, Virat Kohli received nominations across all forms of the game.
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | MS Dhoni | India |
| B | Virat Kohli | India |
| C | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka |
| D | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka |
| E | Rohit Sharma | India |
| F | Mitchell Starc | Australia |
| G | AB de Villiers | South Africa |
ICC women’s ODI cricketer of the decade
It really is a golden era for cricket as five nominees are current players in the top-ten ICC ODI batters or bowlers in the world.
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | Suzie Bates | New Zealand |
| B | Jhulan Goswami | India |
| C | Meg Lanning | Australia |
| D | Ellyse Perry | Australia |
| E | Mithali Raj | India |
| F | Stafanie Taylor | West Indies |
ICC men’s T20I cricketer of the decade
A notable omission from this list of nominees is Australian 20-over star David Warner. Should he feel hard done by?
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | Aaron Finch | Australia |
| B | Chris Gayle | West Indies |
| C | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan |
| D | Virat Kohli | India |
| E | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka |
| F | Rohit Sharma | India |
| G | Imran Tahir | South Africa |
ICC women’s T20I cricketer of the decade
Notably, both Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning were nominated for all of the awards in this list.
| Nominee | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A | Sophie Devine | New Zealand |
| B | Deandra Dottin | West Indies |
| C | Alyssa Healy | Australia |
| D | Meg Lanning | Australia |
| E | Ellyse Perry | Australia |
| F | Anya Shrubsole | England |
If you want your say to count towards the players of the decades results, cast your vote here before December 16.
Hitman
Roar Rookie
Kohli has 50+ average in T20 with 130+ strike rate.and 80+ average while chasing in T20. He is 2 times ahead of Gayle.
AREH
Roar Guru
I have wondered before how a Warner/Cook opening pair would click, when pondering world XI's or teams of the decade etc etc...possibly quite fine
Parth chauhan
Guest
Test =Steve Smith Odi =ab T20= Chris gayle
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Nailed it JN.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
That he is GoldenEye.. Always seems to slip under the radar in these discussions.. Not dissing NZ but if KW was in a stronger team who knows.
Nick
Roar Guru
Jeez, judging by the comments on this tab I think people forget that bowlers also play cricket... While there is no doubt that Kohli will the cricketer of the decade and the ODI gongs there is still a chance a bowler can nab the Test and T20 awards. Chris Gayle is the most dominant T20 player ever, but this award looks at T20 internationals, where although he was strong, was also a mortal. Lasith Malinga is arguably the best T20I player of the decade. And in the tests, Jimmy Anderson's record this decade is really quite remarkable....although Smith should still probably win out.
Nick
Roar Guru
Except those two centuries he's scored against Australia... But yes, your point is still right. Smith and Kohli are still a class above.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Shakib-Al-Hasan?
Targa
Roar Rookie
In Australia drop Anderson and Broad and take 2 from Rabada, Johnson, Starc, and Hazelwood.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I agree with you Bernie. Let that go a long time ago. But when it comes to elite gongs that include that period I'm a bit more circumspect and I imagine the judges of this could be also. The fact is that Smith is head and shoulders clear the best Test Batsman in the last decade so the award would be just, should that be the case...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
It's all in the past, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge and they served their penalty. In any case, it has nothing to do with performances with the bat over the last decade.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
The ICC may have some caveats over him and/or Warner, Bernie. I certainly do...
Jak
Guest
Nope. Not good enough. Consistently failed against Oz. Below Smith and Kohli but better than Joe Root.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Why should Smith be ineligible?
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
ICC male cricketer of the decade - has to be Kohli. ICC Test - Williamson ODI - Kohli, just in front of AB. T20 - Gayle Surely Perry wins everything for the ladies.
JGK
Roar Guru
I assume the match isn’t being played in Australia!
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
As Smith shoud be ineligible it would have to be Virat or Kane. And as a Black Caps fan I'm plugging for him.
matth
Roar Guru
Very tough calls to be made. Perry to get the women’s gong and ODI. Not so sure about T20, maybe Healy or Devine? In the men’s it has to be Kohli overall but smith in tests. ABDV and Sangakkara unlucky. It’s a shame they haven’t split batsmen and bowlers. That would bring Steyn, Ashwin and Anderson into play.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Clark to captain the 2nd xi
Targa
Roar Rookie
Here's my world test XI of the 2010s: D Warner A Cook K Williamson (c) S Smith V Kohli AB DeVilliers (wk) B Stokes V Philander D Steyn R Herath J Anderson to play the 2nd XI T Latham H Amla K Sangakkara Y Khan M Clark S Al Hasan BJ Watling (wk) R Ashwin P Cummins S Broad N Wagner