Jhulan Goswami overtakes 'Men in Blue' for ICC annual awards

Johannesburg, Sep 6 (UNI) New ball bowler Jhulan Goswami remained India's lone representative in the shortlist for ICC annual awards after she was nominated for the 'Women's Cricketer of the Year' category, while none of Dravid's brigade could make it to the curtailed list.

Earlier, the long list of players for the ICC awards, regarded as 'Oscars' of cricket included three Indians -- pacer Zaheer Khan and veteran leggie Anil Kumble in the 'Test Player of the Year' category and dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh's in the ODI category.

But the trio's name was missing from the pruned list made by the 56-member ICC Academy. Apart from them, Jhulan's bowling partner Rumeli Dhar also failed to make the cut in the shortlist after being named in the initial list.

The lanky pacer from Bengal will have to fight a stiff challenge from Aussie Lisa Sthalekar and Claire Taylor of Eng enroute to the coveted title.

Meanwhile, in the men's section, Australian captain Ricky Ponting is in the line for his Cricketer of the Year Award which includes the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, to be presented at a gala function here on September 10.

However, Ponting will have a tough fight from Pakistan's dependable batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who recently joined the Indian Cricket League, maverick South Africa-born English batsman Kevin Pietersen and West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Ponting has also added another feather in his cap by becoming the only player to make the short-list in four categories -- Test Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year and Captain of the Year and the Cricketer of the Year awards -- this year.

UNI