Does cricket need its own Ballon d'Or award?

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 10:08 · Archive

Football's Ballon d'Or award celebrates individual achievement annually, but cricket lacks an equivalent crown for its best player.

Football's Ballon d'Or award has become central to the sport's culture, with debate over contenders consuming media attention throughout each year. The award has grown increasingly political, with player branding, club lobbying and voting blocs influencing outcomes. Real Madrid boycotted the 2024 ceremony after Vinícius Júnior failed to win.

Cricket celebrates individual achievement through rankings for batters, bowlers and all-rounders across different formats for both men and women, maintained by the International Cricket Council. The sport also highlights specific statistical milestones, such as when Joe Root might overtake Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-scorer in Test history.

Yet cricket appears not to have embraced a single award asking which player is the best in the world overall. Instead, the sport recognises excellence through multiple subcategories. This contrasts with football's obsession with determining one supreme individual player each year, a question that dominates discussion regardless of format or position.

How it is being reported

• Copa Independent | Kane v Yamal – and is the Ballon d’Or just a PR contest?The Ballon d’Or has become increasingly political, with player branding, club lobbying and voting blocs all playing their part. But what should the award recognise? In the latest episode of Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly debate whether it should go to the best player or the most valuable over a 12-month period — and how much weight should be given to trophies, stats, influence, “magic” and the impact of World Cup years.Independent Sport · 21 Oct, 09:53
• Golden bat or ball: does cricket need an equivalent to the Ballon d’Or? | Taha HashimFootball is obsessed by its annual award, but cricket seems less enthusiastic about crowning its own best player in the world It’s time for the Ballon d’Or because it’s always time for the Ballon d’Or. Once the golden ball is presented at the London Palladium this month to Harry Kane/Lamine Yamal/Lionel Messi (let us know in the comments!), the debate will quickly switch to next year’s contenders, continuing football’s unhealthy relationship with an individual trophy. “How World Cup final could be pivotal in Ballon d’Or race”, read a BBC headline in July, though the real jump-the-shark…The Guardian · 20 Oct, 14:00

In this story: International Cricket Council · Joe Root · Sachin Tendulkar · Vinícius Júnior · Real Madrid

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