ESPNcricinfo awards

ESPNcricinfo announced the awards for 2010 in each form of the game for batting bowling. In a simple ceremony, they announced the awards in addition to the Statsguru awards

Twenty20

Tim Southee got the award for the best bowling performance in T20 international. The spell by Southee included a hattrick too. Michael Hussey got the award for best batting performance for his 60* against Pakistan in the World T20 semi-final

ODI

Sachin Tendulkar expectedly got the award for the best batting performance for his 200* against South Africa in Gwalior and Umar Gul took the bowling honours for his six wicket haul against England at The Oval

Tests

Dale Steyn took the bowling honours for his spell in Nagpur against India and Laxman took the batting prize home for his 96 at Durban, where no other Indian crossed 50

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The highlight of the evening though was the freewheeling chat between the Test winners and the members of jury, Sanjay Manjrekar and Ian Chappell. While Steyn charmed the audience with his ready wit, Laxman simplified the thought process

On being questioned about the kind of line he would bowl, Steyn was of the opinion that a fuller delivery more often than not would do the trick. As much as the delivery ran the risk of being driven, it also presented the opportunity of the ball taking the edge. He pointed to his bowling coach in the audience and said the philosophy was simple “Take two at the beginning and three at the end”. He felt that top two were a problem but said the tail enders are always susceptible to the moving ball. He also said that attacking fields had to taken advantage of, as they are present for a reason

Laxman felt that it helps if the mind is clear. He accepted that it would be tough to walk into the middle with bowlers like Steyn in the middle of a fearsome spell. He said he would want to play out the overs and felt it would be a little easier to face the same bowler if he came back for a new spell. Steyn wittily remarked that it would help if the bowlers knew his thought process

While reminiscing about the Melbourne innings, Steyn said that he was happy that he got his first batting related injury in that game ( he got a cramped hand) and felt that the partnerships that Duminy had with Harris and Morkel prior to him helped his confidence. He also said that  he did gloating about it for two weeks

Laxman said that batting with tail was something that came with experience and trust. He opined that taking the responsibility of Hyderabad batting in his early days and guiding them to wins stood him in good stead. He said with the bowlers taking a lot more pride in their batting these days, it’s become easier to play with the tail. He cited the instance of Perth Test where he said RP Singh was comfortable taking on Tait but had problems with Lee. He said he saw out the Lee spell and it was crucial because RP Singh went on to make 31. He further added that he himself was surprised with his reaction to Ojha in the Mohali test and put it down to anxiety as the target was approaching nearer

Steyn said that the diving run-out by Jonty Rhodes in the 1992 World Cup was the moment that inspired him take to cricket. He said his role-model was Brett Lee and was appreciative of the fact that Lee at 34 was sending 145kmph and 150 kmph balls. He recalled that he was change room attendant for New Zealand at the 2003 World Cup. When after six months ( he had a broken knee at the time) he played at Essex, he reminded Andre Adams about the fact that he was the attendant. He said that he himself was surprised at the turn of events in his life

Laxman picked out his parents as his role-models and thanked them for allowing him five years to make a mark in international cricket

Steyn had the audience in splits when reacting to a question from Manjrekar as to his body was natural or a sculpted one. He pointed to the upper torso and said that it was all natural

On a serious note, he thanked the management and the board for managing his work-load and said that his aim would be to send down thunderbolts at 35, much the way Lee is doing now

Laxman said his immediate goal was to perform well in the IPL, where he would be playing for Kochi

At the end of the session both Steyn and Laxman answered a few questions from the media present and took leave for the day