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The dominance of Australia and Sri Lanka in Test cricket over the last year has led to two players from each country gaining nominations for the International Player of the Year award.

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and batsman Mahela Jayawardene are among the nominees as well as Adam Gilchrist and opener Matthew Hayden from Australia.

Before their 2-0 Test series defeat in England, Sri Lanka won nine consecutive Test matches during the Southern Hemisphere season, moving to third in the ICC Test Championship.

Australia dominated what was billed as a clash for top spot in the rankings, winning five of six Tests against South Africa.

The four are joined by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

The annual award, made by the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA), will be handed out at a star-studded dinner in London on 10 July.

Other awards include the International Young Player of the Year and Team of the Year, and three former international cricketers will be inducted in the 55-strong FICA Hall of Fame.

India's Virender Sehwag, Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakarra, West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan and England bowler Matthew Hoggard are the young nominees.

And Sri Lanka's one-day side, and the both the Australian Test and one-day sides are in the running for the team gong.

But Australia's selectors are less easy to please that the FICA panel.

The team's poor performance in the home one-day triangular series against New Zealand and South Africa this year saw Steve Waugh deposed as captain. (BBC online)

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