More praise for Bishoo and Taylor after ICC Awards

St John, Antigua – West Indies players Devendra Bishoo and Stefanie Taylor have come in for congratulations after taking home trophies at the International Cricket Council’s Annual Awards ceremony, which was held in London on Monday night, September 12.

Bishoo, the 25-year-old leg-spinner from Guyana, copped the Emerging Player of the Year award; while Taylor, the 20-year- old batting all-rounder from Jamaica, won the Women’s Cricketer of the Year award.

West Indies Women’s team captain Merissa Aguilleira said she was delighted that Taylor had secured the most prestigious prize in women’s cricket, and she deemed it a victory “for women across the West Indies”. West Indies men’s team Head Coach Ottis Gibson said he was happy to see the progress Bishoo had made in the first year of his international career, and he urged Bishoo to continue working hard.

Aguilleira, the longstanding captain, said: “Stafanie is a very determined, hardworking, consistent player, and she is a great asset to the West Indies team. After hearing that she won the award, I was very pleased that I have a player of that calibre playing alongside me. I want to wish her continued success.

“With her reaching this level, the other girls will see that the sky is the limit, and see Stafanie as an example that we can be the best in the world. This is a great achievement not just for her, but for West Indies Cricket and for women in the West Indies.” Speaking about Bishoo, Gibson said: “I want to congratulate Bishoo on winning this award. He shows a great attitude to learning, and this reward is a testament to his attitude to learn as much as he can and to seek to improve.

“We are all delighted, and we all hope he will continue to grow as a cricketer and fulfil his potential.” Taylor was outstanding during the voting period, with 610 runs at the top of the order, at an average of 76.25. She also collected 15 wickets with her off- spin in 10 One Day Internationals.

She rose to Number Two in batting in the ICC Women’s rankings, and is in the top five of all-rounders as well.

Last month she led Jamaica to the title in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Women’s 50 Over League, beating a powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago side in the final.

Bishoo made a very good start to his career at the highest level. He made his Test debut against Pakistan at home at the Guyana National Stadium in May, and played a major role in the West Indies’ win.

He has so far played five Test matches and taken 21 wickets at 35.42 each. He has also been impressive in 11 ODIs, with 19 wickets at 21.57 each and another five wickets in two T20 Internationals at 9.6 apiece. (WICB release)