by Cricketers of the Year in the 1996 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Bear in
mind that these are the personal choices of the editor (Matthew Engel),
that greatest weight is given to the previous English season, and that
no player can be selected more than once (which accounts for what would
otherwise be a remarkable lack of any of the West Indian tourists).
The five are:
Dominic Cork
Aravinda de Silva
Angus Fraser
Anil Kumble
Dermot Reeve
Cork was an obvious choice, given his success for England against the
West Indies. Since the choices were made well in advance of the World
Cup, the choice of de Silva is a particularly happy one, influenced by
his fine performances for Kent last summer. Fraser is perhaps fortunate
to be chosen on last year's achievements, but no doubt it was felt he
deserved it based on his career as a whole. Kumble had a fine season for
Northamptonshire, of course. Reeve's selection is no doubt mainly due to
the remarkable success that Warwickshire have enjoyed under his
captaincy.
--
Few things are harder to put up with than a good example.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)