Ntini, Ngam among SA's five best

JOHANNESBURG, OCT. 2. Fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Mfuneko Ngam have become the first South African black players to be named `cricketers of the year'. Ntini and Ngam were among five cricketers announced for the awards on Monday night. The others to be named were captain Shaun Pollock, left-arm spinner Nicky Boje and batsman Neil McKenzie. Pollock is the only one to have been honoured previously, having won the award in 1996 and 1998.

Ntini took 23 wickets in six home Test matches at an average of 19.21 and went on to have a successful tour of the West Indies where he claimed Brian Lara in three successive Test innings.

Ngam made a sensational impact in his first international season and shone against New Zealand and Sri Lanka before he got injured.

Pollock scored two Test centuries during the season and underlined his ability as a match-winning bowler, becoming the first South African and only the eighth player in history to complete the Test double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets.

Boje continued the form which he showed at the end of the previous season when he starred in India and Sri Lanka. He established himself as South Africa's first choice spin bowler and a quality batsman, making two centuries in limited overs international.

McKenzie, who made a match-winning 69 against Zimbabwe in the third one-day international on Sunday, hit two Test centuries and was outstanding as fielder. Mckenzie's father, Kevin, was `cricketer of the year' in 1974 and 1986.

- PTI

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