Australia dominate CEAT cricket awards; domestic awards announced

Mumbai, Jun 28 (UNI) The CEAT cricket ratings awards 2005-06 which were announced here today saw Australia annexing all the top categories-- the International Cricketer of the Year, International Team of the Year and International Debutant of the year awards.

Sunil Gavaskar, one of the adjudicators along with Australian former Aussie captain Ian Chappell, who was present on the occasion announced the names of Ricky Ponting as the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year, Australia as the CEAT International Team of the Year and Mike Hussey as the CEAT International debutant of the year award.

CEAT which has revived these awards after a hiatus of three years along with a new logo also announced a rating system for domestic cricket to recognise the outstanding talent. These ratings will be called the ''CEAT India Cricket Ratings'' and will honour and nurture those unsung talented cricketers who have proved their mettle in domestic arena.

Another unique dimension to these Indian Ratings is CEAT's effort to create the CEAT XI team. This team which was announced for the 2005-06 season today, would give enthusiasts a clear idea of the budding talent and the potential new entrants into the Indian national cricket team.

For the moment, these Ceat India cricket ratings will be applied to performances in the Elite Group of the Ranji Trophy.

The domestic awards would be given in four categories - CEAT Domestic cricketer of the year, CEAT Domestic batsman of the year, CEAT Domestic Bowler of the Year, CEAT most promising youngster of the year.

Gavaskar announcing the domestic awards said that Romesh Powar of Mumbai was chosen as the CEAT Domestic cricketer of the year and would get Rs 2 lakh and a trophy, S Badrinath of Tamil Nadu as the domestic batsman of the year and Praveen Kumar of Uttar Pradesh as the best domestic bowler and most promising youngster and they would stand to gain Rs one lakh and a trophy each.

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