Sangakkara ODI player of the year
Cook and Trott pick up main ICC awards:
England batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were named
respectively test player of the year and player of the year at a
ceremony hosted by the sport’s governing body the International Cricket
Council (ICC) on Monday.
Cook, the 26-year-old opener who was appointed one day captain after
the World Cup this year - shone during the year peaking with a masterly
294 in the third Test victory over India in August, though, that fell
outside the time frame for the award.
It was his third test century in six matches and 19th in all and is
now just three shy of England’s all-time record Test century total. It
represents quite a turnaround in the genial Cook’s fortunes as a year
ago he was close to being dropped before reviving his career with a
hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.
It proved to be the springboard for a triumphant tour of Australia
where he scored 766 runs, including three centuries, as England won the
Ashes 3-1.
During the performance period, he played 12 Tests and in 18 innings,
he compiled 1,302 runs at an average of 51.74, including six centuries
and four half-centuries.
His highest score of 235 not out against Australia at Brisbane helped
his team towards series victory as it won the Ashes away from home for
the first time since the 1986-87 season.
The independent voting academy of 25 cricket experts put Cook first,
ahead of an impressive group of players that had been short-listed,
including England team-mates Trott and James Anderson, as well as
Jacques Kallis of South Africa, who previously won this award in 2005.
The ICC later named Trott as their cricketer of the year.
brilliant feeling to be recognised,” Trott said.
Trott, who alongside Cook was a bedrock of England’s victory in
Australia last winter with 445 runs, took the award ahead of fellow
short-list nominees Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla.
After receiving the award at a dinner, Trott spoke of his delight at
an accolade that honoured not just his but England’s achievements over
the last 12 months.
LONDON, AFP
|