ICC Awards 2016: Howzat! R Ashwin Named Cricketer of the Year

Ashwin named Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year. He is also the sole Indian to feature in ICC’s Test Team of the Year.Third time lucky, Virat Kohli named captain of the ODI Team of the Year.Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have also been included in the ODI Team of the Year.Ravichandran Ashwin declared ICC Cricketer of the Year as he wins the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. Ashwin Also Wins ICC Test Cricketer of the YearAshwin added 48 Test wickets to his career tally between 14 September 2015 to 20 September 2016. His Sri Lankan counterpart Rangana Herath picked more wickets (54) during the time period, however Ashwin’s stats were better.The Indian picked six five-wicket hauls in the eight matches that he played, while Herath picked four fifers in the ten matches he played.Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja in ICC ODI Team of the YearThird time lucky, Virat Kohli has been named captain of the ICC ODI Team of the Year. Batsman Rohit Sharma and spinner Ravindra Jadeja also feature in the team at number three and eight, respectively.Cricket legends Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten and Kumar Sangakkara selected both, the ODI and Test teams, based on the cricketers' performances between 14 September 2015 to 20 September 2016.The ODI team includes three Australians, Indians, South Africans each, and one each from England and West Indies. South Africa's AB de Villiers has been selected for the sixth time since 2010, while Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been picked up for the third time in four years.ICC ODI Team of the Year 2016 (in batting order):David Warner (Australia)Quinton de Kock (South Africa) (wicketkeeper)Rohit Sharma (India)Virat Kohli (India) (captain)AB de Villiers (South Africa)Jos Buttler (England)Mitchell Marsh (Australia)Ravindra Jadeja (India)Mitchell Starc (Australia)Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)Sunil Narine (West Indies)Imran Tahir (South Africa)Ashwin Features in ICC Test Team of the YearRavichandran Ashwin is the only Indian cricketer to feature in the ICC Test Team of the Year.The side includes four Englishmen, three Australians, and a player each from New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.England’s Alastair Cook has been named captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year for the third time. Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper) and Ben Stokes are other three Englishmen in the team. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has been included in the team for the eighth time in nine years.ICC Test Team of the Year 2016 (in batting order):David Warner (Australia)Alastair Cook (England) (captain)Kane Williamson (New Zealand)Joe Root (England)Adam Voges (Australia)Jonny Bairstow (England) (wicketkeeper)Ben Stokes (England)R Ashwin (India)Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)Mitchell Starc (Australia)Dale Steyn (South Africa)Steve Smith (Australia)Quinton de Kock: ODI Cricketer of the YearMustafizur Rahman: Emerging Cricketer of the YearCarlos Brathwaite: T20I Performance of the YearMohammad Shahzad: Affiliate Cricketer of the YearMarais Erasmus Named Umpire of the YearMarais Erasmus, who officiated India’s recently concluded Test series against England, wins the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year. He was chosen by the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees along with the Test playing captains.The 52-year-old umpire made his international debut in October 2007 in an ODI between Kenya and Canada.Shepherd has been one of the role models for many aspiring umpires. To win the trophy named after him is something to be proud of. Marais ErasmusMisbah-ul-Haq Wins Spirit of Cricket AwardPakistan's captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, wins the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award to become the first Pakistani player to win the title. Mahendra Singh Dhoni took home the award in 2011, while the other previous winners have been Daniel Vettori (2012), Mahela Jayawardena (2013), Katherine Brunt (2014) and Brendon McCullum (2015).The 42-year-old took over Pakistan cricket team's captaincy in November 2010. Currently the Test skipper, he was also captain of the ODI team till his retirement after the 2015 World Cup. Under his lead, Pakistan achieved the No.1 Test ranking in September 2016, for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced.I feel honoured and humbled to have won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award. To lift the Test mace earlier this year and now this in the twilight of my career, is a message for every athlete that age is not a barrier as long as the sportsperson maintains highest fitness levels and continues to perform up to international standards. As a team, we have focused on playing within the rich traditions of the sport with a positive mindset and approach so that we can entertain the spectators and fans, and at the same time, challenge the oppositions. Misbah-ul-HaqIn a bid to recognise and honour consistent performers in international cricket over a 12-month period, the ICC instituted the annual awards ceremony in 2004. Cricketers are honoured among several categories, including Cricketer of the Year (winner presented with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy), Test Cricketer of the Year and ODI Cricketer of the Year.Watch this space for all the live updates on ICC Awards 2016.Also Read: Root, Williamson, Ashwin: Who Will Take Away the ICC Awards?The awards for 2016 will cover performances in international cricket between 14 September 2015 and 20 September 2016. In an announcement made last week, the ICC named New Zealand’s Suzie Bates as winner of the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year.(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

ICC Awards 2016: Howzat! R Ashwin Named Cricketer of the Year

Watch this space for all the live updates on ICC Awards 2016.

The Quint DAILY

Mohammad Shahzad: Affiliate Cricketer of the Year

Quinton de Kock: ODI Cricketer of the Year

Mustafizur Rahman: Emerging Cricketer of the Year

Carlos Brathwaite: T20I Performance of the Year