Kagiso Rabada sweeps annual CSA awards

Kagiso Rabada, the South African fast bowler, collected six awards at the annual Cricket South Africa awards ceremony in Johannesburg on Tuesday (July 26). In addition to being named the Cricketer of the Year, Rabada also won the One-Day International Cricketer of the Year and Test cricketer of the Year awards.

The 21-year-old picked up 30 wickets in just 14 ODI games in the period including a six-wicket haul on debut at an average of just 20 and an economy under five. He also picked up 24 wickets in six Test matches at an average of 24 and stood out in the format despite South Africa's poor run. Earlier this year, he also became the youngest South African to pick up ten wickets in a Test.

"Simply outstanding! Congratulations to Kagiso on recording one of the most remarkable debut years that any young cricketer has achieved in our history," CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat said. "Added to his record-breaking performances and statistics, is his humility and level-headedness that you would normally associate with a senior player.

"With injuries to our main fast bowlers during this past year, he has had to step up and lead the attack. How brilliantly has he done that!"

Rabada also won the Players' Player of the Year award, the 'Delivery of the Year' award for the ball he bowled to England's Jason Roy in the Twenty20 International at Wanderers earlier this year and was voted the SA Fans Cricketer of the Year. Legspinner Imran Tahir won the T20I Cricketer of the Year award after picking up 18 wickets at an economy of 6.83 in 11 matches.

33-year-old opener Stephen Cook was named the Newcomer of the Year after he hit a ton on his debut against England at Centurion this year. The KFC Award of Excellence was bagged by Temba Bavuma for registering his maiden Test century, also against England at Newlands in the same series. Newly appointed skipper Dane van Niekerk was named the Women's Cricketer of the Year.

For averaging 62 with the bat, Titans batsman Heino Kuhn was named the Sunfoil Series Cricketer of the Season. He also went on to pick up the Domestic Players' Player of the Season award. Veteran all-rounder Albie Morkel bagged the Ram Slammer of the Season award after picking up ten wickets at an economy of 4.92. He also scored 197 runs at a strike rate of 141 in the tournament. Lions batsman and former South African Test opener Alviro Petersen was named the Momentum One-Day Cup Cricketer of the Season for topping the run charts with five centuries.