Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen has been named the International Cricket Council’s Men’s Emerging Cricket of the Year for 2022.
Jansen took 36 Test wickets at an average of 19.02 in 2022.
“Jansen beat tough competition from India’s Arshdeep Singh, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who all enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022,” read a statement from the ICC.
“Jansen’s first nine* Test matches (*including Boxing Day in Australia) have turned heads in the cricket world, and moments with the white-ball show there will be little respite for batting line-ups no matter the format.
“After a strong Test debut on home soil on Boxing Day in 2021, Jansen continued to trouble his opponents no matter where he travelled in 2022.
“Taking 14 Test wickets in the calendar year in South Africa at just 13.50, Jansen emulated the success on tour in England and Australia, averaging just 13.11 and 13.33 respectively.”
‘I am lost for words’
Jansen has been named in the Proteas’ ODI squad for this month’s series against England. He recently represented Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the inaugural edition of the SA20.
“I am lost for words right now after what I think has been a dream year for me. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined taking 36 wickets and playing eight Test matches for the Proteas in my first year of international cricket,” said Jansen.
“So to have achieved this feat, with the cherry on top of being named as the ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year, is unbelievable. I am so grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to reach this point so early in my career.
“I am also still developing and hopefully with hard work and dedication in the months and years ahead, I will be able to reach my full potential and become a great ambassador for South African cricket.
“For now I will enjoy the moment, but I look forward to building on my achievements of 2022 in 2023.”