Australia skipper named one of Five Cricketers of the Year for 2015 by cricket 'bible' Wisden
Smith honoured with Wisden gong
Australia captain Steve Smith has been named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in the annual award by the esteemed publication.
Smith was joined by England players Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, as well as New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and his successor Kane Williamson.
Recognised in the 153rd edition of the annual publication released this week, the tradition that dates back to 1889 highlights on-field excellence and influence on results throughout the year centred around performances during the English summer.
No player can be named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year twice, which explains why Chris Rogers, who led Australia's batting averages during last winter's Ashes defeat with 480 runs at 60, was not selected – the veteran opener had already been honoured by Wisden in 2014 for his efforts during the 2013 Ashes series, along with Ryan Harris.
Steve Smith (Australia)
Smith's amazing run of form dates back to his century in the final Ashes Test of 2013, but it hit new peaks in 2015, capped by his first and so far only career double-century, at Lord's.
Throughout the 2015 calendar year, Smith scored 1,474 runs at 73.70 in 13 Tests. Roughly a third of those runs – 508 – came in the Ashes against England which formed the basis of his selection by Wisden.
That output was capped by his memorable 215 at the home of cricket. It was a masterful innings – with a second-innings 58 added for good measure – that set-up a thumping 405-run victory for Australia.
Smith added a second Ashes century at The Oval, piling up 143 as Australia cruised to a consolation victory that farewelled Rogers and Michael Clarke.
Sadly for Australia, Smith managed just 92 runs at 15.33 in the three Tests Australia lost as the streak of Ashes series defeats on British soil extended to a fourth-straight humbling.
Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes scored an Ashes hundred in the 2013-14 series but it was on home soil in 2015 that he showed the English public just what a gifted cricketer he is. In the first Test of the home summer, he came to his side's rescue from No.6, negotiating swing-friendly conditions at Lord's to make a mature 92 and help take England from 4-30 to 389 all out. But it was in the second innings that Stokes delivered his spectacular best, slamming a century from 85 balls – the fastest ever made in a Lord's Test – which included 15 fours and three sixes.
It was a brutal, barnstorming knock, and he backed it up with 3-38 in the second innings, including the wickets of Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum with successive deliveries as England sealed a stunning win. Stokes didn't set the Ashes alight but his contributions were more than handy; 201 runs with a pair of fifties, and 11 wickets at 33 were more than enough to have England supporters crowing that they'd found another Botham.
Jonny Bairstow (England)
Jonny Bairstow didn't begin last English summer in the national side but he made an irresistible case for inclusion as the months wore on through sheer volume of runs. Under the watchful eye of Jason Gillespie, the Yorkshireman plunder five hundreds and six fifties in a dozen County Championship matches, his 1,226 runs coming at an average of 75 and a strike-rate of 76.
Bairstow had been haunted by some below-par performances in the 2013-14 Ashes series but was called up by Trevor Bayliss on the back of his superb county form for the third Test of the 2015 edition. He made only five, but followed it up with 74 at Nottingham to retain his place in the national side, help England regain the Ashes, and cap off a memorable summer.
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
The New Zealand skipper may have scored only one half-century against England in his side's visit, but he won over the hearts and minds of the British cricket-loving public with his laid-back yet competitive attitude that put the 'spirit of the game' above winning and personal performances.
McCullum scored 138 runs at 34.5 in two Tests against England, and was bowled first ball in his second dig at Lord's as England stormed to victory.
His one half-century of the tour was a second-innings 55 as the Black Caps made 454 before bowling England out on the fifth day for a series-levelling 199-run win.
The English public did get to see the entertaining batsman at his best before the summer was out however, as he donned the shirt of Warwickshire in the domestic T20 competition and proceeded to pummel a record-breaking 158no from just 64 balls, with 13 fours and 11 sixes. It was the highest score of the tournament and another reminder why the Kiwis skipper earned himself an army of supporters worldwide.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Williamson was quick to impress the Wisden judges, scoring 132 at Lord's, his first century against England. He now has 13 Test tons – five of them coming in 2015 including two on Australian soil.
The heir apparent to McCullum's captaincy – he's taken over the T20 reins but New Zealand have yet to formally confirm their new Test skipper – hit 15 boundaries and nary put a foot wrong in his Lord's innings that helped the Black Caps assert dominance over their hosts.
Given a solid 148-run platform on which to build, New Zealand's score had advanced 322 runs before he departed.
New Zealand were frustrated by England's second-innings fightback and when a strong position had turned into a battle for survival, Williamson anchored a Black Caps top order that collapse around him. His 27 from 70 balls allowed a rear-guard from Watling and Anderson but the damage was done as England claimed victory.
Williamson's second Test return yielded just six runs, nibbling edges behind to Anderson and Broad, masters of their home conditions, when the No.3 was exposed early against the new ball.