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Cape Town - Four bowlers and a wicketkeeper were named as the South African Cricket Annual’s Cricketers of the Year in the publication which was released on Thursday.
Fast bowlers Sisanda Magala and Hardus Viljoen, spinners Dane Piedt and Tabraiz Shamsi and wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Vilas joined a long list of outstanding players who have been honoured by the authoritative publication, now in its 63rd year.
In contrast to the official Cricket South Africa awards, players can only be named once by the Annual.
Magala was a stalwart for the Warriors in domestic cricket, bowling consistently in all three formats of the game, taking a total of 57 wickets and earning a call-up to the South Africa A team.
Viljoen’s whole-hearted efforts brought him 47 wickets in the Sunfoil Series four-day competition, the most by any bowler, and a first Test cap in the third Test against England.
Off-spinner Piedt completed a successful comeback from a serious shoulder injury, suffered at the start of the previous season, to establish himself as the first-choice spinner in the Standard Bank Test side.
Left-arm wrist spinner Shamsi bamboozled batsmen in South Africa and played in both the Indian and Caribbean Premier Leagues before making a successful debut for the Proteas in a one-day tournament in the West Indies.
Vilas earned five Test caps as South Africa’s Test wicketkeeper in difficult circumstances in Bangladesh and India before showing his character by topping the Sunfoil Series batting averages with 761 runs at an average of 69.18, gaining a further Test cap when Quinton de Kock was injured during the series against England.
The 680-page South African Cricket Annual, which features South African Cricketer of the Year Kagiso Rabada on the cover, is edited by journalist and broadcaster Colin Bryden. It provides a full record of all representative cricket played under the auspices of Cricket South Africa, from international to Under-13 level, as well as feature articles on subjects including transformation and the Gulam Bodi corruption case.
Acknowledged as one of the best publications of its type in the world, it will be available for purchase through Cricket South Africa’s office. Fans interested in acquiring a copy of the annual can contact 011 880 2810. .
