Cricket review 2008

Durham: Maiden Championship title

The 2008 calendar year finished with South Africa putting a serious case towards knocking Australia off their almost cemented perch as the No.1 ranked Test nation.

So, to my awards for 2008. I neither expect nor want you to agree with all of them, so feel free to post your views on another cricketing year at the bottom.

Player of the year - Ajantha Mendis

Sri Lankan sensation Mendis has taken to international cricket with devastating effect. The unorthodox spinner has more deliveries than Royal Mail and has embarrassed the most experienced of batsmen with his box of tricks. The 23-year-old has taken 26 wickets in just three Test matches as well as a mere 48 in 18 one day internationals. Other players worth a mention for this gong - ICC Player of 2008 Shivnarine Chanderpaul picked up where he left off the previous season and now averages 49.25 in Test match cricket. Marcus Trescothick retired from international cricket in March, but England's loss was well and truly Somerset's gain as the classy left-hander averaged 46.59 in the Cidermen's title-challenging season. South Africa captain Graeme Smith led from the front by hitting the most runs in 2008. Smith struck 1656 runs at an average on 72 to help his side record impressive wins in England and Australia.

Team of the year - Durham

I know a lot of India and South Africa supporters will be shocked and flabbergasted by this pick, but the north east county just edged this accolade after clinching the LV County Championship for the first time.

Just 16 years after gaining first-class status, the coaching qualities of Geoff Cook, the tactical brilliance of Dale Benkenstein and the rejuvenated Steve Harmsion were all major factors in a well-deserved title triumph. Regardless of the weather, the pitches and the mind-boggling influence of bonus points, Durham were the best side throughout the long, gruelling and exciting campaign in another wet summer.

Moment(s) of the year - Tendulkar's ton/Ramprakash's runs

Sachin Tendulkar features in two out of three of my favourite moments of 2008 as he continues to push the boundaries of batting excellence. In Mohali, on October 17 the Little Master brought the whole of India to their feet when he surpassed Brian Lara's batting record to become the leading run scorer in the history of Test cricket. And, after downing the Aussies, Tendulkar then single handily restored the spirits of a nation as he struck a match-winning century against England in Chennai. Tendulkar gave his country, and more specifically his hometown, some much-needed cheer so soon after the terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of more than 160 people.

Another deserved mention goes to Surrey and former England batsman Mark Ramprakash after he became only the 25th player to score 100 first-class centuries - a truly remarkable feat.

Best innings - Graham Napier v Sussex

A destructive innings in Chelmsford on a June evening saw a handy county cricketer turn into a potential world beater. Napier smashed 16 sixes and 10 fours as the home crowd ducked and dived for cover and the Sussex bowlers looked on in horror. Another innings of pure brutality came on the opening night of the inaugural Indian Premier League as Brendon McCullum smashed 158 off 73 balls for Bangalore. Virender Sehwag's unbelievable 319 against South Africa in Chennai is also worthy of a mention.

Best match - Sussex stun Notts

It may not have been the best quality, however a match that sticks out for me came at Trent Bridge in September when Murray Goodwin single-handedly denied Nottinghamshire their first one-day title since 1991. Sussex's star batsman gave former captain Chris Adams the perfect send-off as the Sharks snatched the Pro40 Division 1 title from the jaws of defeat. Chasing 227 for the win, Sussex slumped to 130-8 as Goodwin found himself stranded with only Pakistani paceman Mohammed Sami for company. Undeterred, the pair forged an inspired fightback, topped off by a last ball six from the Zimbabwean as the Nottinghamshire faithful looked on in disbelief.

Low point - Mumbai attacks

As is the case with any sport, there have been many low points this season - the inaugural Stanford Super Series, the woeful weather, but nothing compares with the horrible scenes in Mumbai. The terror attacks that hit the city left over 160 people dead and forced a premature end to the one-day series between India and England. Thankfully for the country and cricket, Kevin Pietersen's side returned soon after to play a superb two-Test series.

Year to remember

Tony Frost - Prized away from the seat of his super sopper, the Edgbaston trainee groundsman was persuaded to swap his gardening gloves for wicket-keeping ones at the start of the 2008 season after Warwickshire 'keeper Tim Ambrose was called up to the England squad. A career-best 242 not out against Essex at Chelmsford was the highlight of a season which saw the 33-year-old average 83.58 to help inspire Warwickshire to the LV County Championship Division Two title.

Kevin Pietersen - A 'dream' came true for Pietersen in the summer of 2008 as he was announced as captain of England in place of Michael Vaughan. And Pietersen being Pietersen marked the occasion by scoring a fabulous century against his nation of birth, South Africa at The Brit Oval.

Sachin Tendulkar - 2008 saw 'The Little Master' overtake Brian Lara as the leading run scorer in the history of Test match cricket. Tendulkar surpassed the 11,953 run total against Australia in Mohali, and needless to say the Indian public rather enjoyed it.

A year to forget

Rahul Dravid - It is fair to say the India batsman known as 'The Wall' wasn't at his best in 2008 - an average of 30 in Tests throughout the year no disgrace, but for a man of Dravid's ilk two centuries is nothing to shout about.

Rikki Clarke - After joining Derbyshire at the start of the 2008 season, Clarke began a new chapter in his cricketing career, a chapter he will now want to forget. Just five months into his reign Clarke left the County Ground, citing bad form as his main reason.

Australia - Are the wheels coming off? The signs in 2008 are that they could well be. Test series defeats to India in the sub continent and South Africa on home soil exposing a number of frailties in the Australian outfit. While Ricky Ponting continues to blossom, there are still huge question marks surrounding Matthew Hayden at the top of the order after he endured a torrid 2008 with the bat. Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin have both been big positives for the Aussies, but Jason Krejza is certainly no Shane Warne and with no Glenn McGrath to throw the ball to either, there could be worrying times ahead for the Baggy Greens.

Gone but not forgotten

Graeme Hick - I often have to look twice when I check the Test match statistics for Graeme Hick. He averaged 56.78 at the highest level, unfortunately however, that was with the ball. Hick made over 41,000 first-class runs during a career which lasted a quarter of a century and included 136 centuries. He made an emotional farewell from Worcestershire in 2008 but his legacy at New Road will live on for decades to come.

Darren Gough - 'Dazzler' finishes a glittering career with 855 first-class wickets and plenty of champagne moments to his name and his charisma and competitiveness will be greatly missed.

Sourav 'Dada' Ganguly and Anil Kumble - Two of India's finest also bowed out in 2008, leaving the international arena as a new era begins in the sub-continent. Ganguly leaves with 14,933 first-class runs behind him and Kumble sits third in the all-time list of Test match wicket takers with 619.

Shaun Pollock - can be found at number eight on that all-time wicket-takers list. The canny South African made an emotional farewell from international cricket at Johannesburg in February and deserves special mention for his achievements.