South Africa's Lizelle Lee Named ICC Women's One Day International Cricketer of the Year for 2021

South Africa's Lizelle Lee Named ICC Women's One Day International Cricketer of the Year for 2021

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
  • Proteas run-machine Lizelle Lee rounded off an excellent season for her - and an outstanding summer for South African cricket
  • Lee was named as the International Cricket Council's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021 after a blistering run of form with the bat
  • She was the leading run scorer in two series against the West Indies and India, which the "Vrouteas" won comfortably

Proteas women's star Lizelle Lee was named as the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021 in the annual International Cricket Council Award.

Lee had an outstanding year in the format, scoring 632 runs in 11 matches at an average of 90.28, including a century and five half-centuries. Pakistan's Babar Azam was the winner in the men's category.

lizelle lee, proteas, south africa, 2021, icc, women, one day international, cricketer of the year
South Africa's Lizelle Lee, the ICC Women's One Day International Cricketer of the Year for 2021. Image source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

According to SuperSport, Lee also finished as the highest run-scorer in 2021 in the fifty over format. In South Africa’s tour of India, Lee was in red-hot form, contributing with big runs in the Proteas' 4-1 series win.

With 288 runs, including a hundred and two fifties, she ended the series as the highest run-scorer and was also awarded the Player of the Series.

Lee scored the highest individual ODI score of her career at 132* in the third match of the series against India. She carried her form over to the series against West Indies and was once again the top run-getter in the series.

As reported in an ICC press release, Lee was chuffed with her achievement, saying:

“I am very privileged and honoured to have been awarded the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. I honestly didn’t expect this. It is a privilege just to be nominated, anyone could have won this award. It is truly an honour!
“There are so many that I would like to give credit to not just on the field but off the field too. Firstly, I would like to thank my family which has been my No 1 support system, my parents and my wife, our coaching staff, and teammates, without whom none of this would have been possible.”

South Africa claim series victory against India, social media in awe of whitewash

The Proteas put on another impressive display against India in the third and final one day international (ODI) to claim the match and series victory.

South Africa beat India 3-0 in the series to add to their Test match series victory.

Quinton de Kock was once again in devastating form as he scored 124 to lead the Proteas to 287 all out, Sport24 confirmed.

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