Golden bat or ball: does cricket need an equivalent to the Ballon d’Or? | Taha Hashim

The Guardian

Football 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 moment…