Batsman Root named England's Test, ODI cricketer of year

Star batsman Joe Root has been named England's Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer of the year at the England Cricket Board's annual awards.

Root was on Monday also voted men's player of the year by England fans for the second year running. The supporters recognised his outstanding performances which included a pair of hundreds during a 3-2 home Ashes success, four ODI hundreds across the voting period, and a team-high 249 runs during the ICC World T20, in which England finished runners-up to the West Indies.

Root beat off competition from fellow nominees Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes for the Test cricket award, with Jos Buttler and David Willey his rivals for the ODI award, according to ecb.co.uk.

Root's superb form with the bat also saw him climb to No.1 in the Test rankings during last year's Ashes, and the 25-year-old is steadily building an incredible record in the game's longest format: in 39 Tests, he averages 54.93 with nine hundreds.

Despite having played just 68 ODIs, Root already has eight hundreds and trails only Marcus Trescothick (12) and Kevin Pietersen (9) among Englishmen on that list.

Among other awards handed out on the night, Somerset's Anya Shrubsole won the England women's cricketer of the year award for the first time.

Charlotte Edwards, who recently announced her retirement from international cricket after 20 years, won the women's player of the year award voted for by England fans.

"It's been a remarkable year for our international teams. Each of the players honoured tonight has made a big contribution to England cricket, helping to win matches and to inspire a wider audience and deserves the highest praise," ECB CEO Tom Harrison said on Monday.

--IANS

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