Warne bags a top honour from the BBC

Shane Warne crossed the 600-wicket mark during this summer's Ashes series in England © Getty Images Enlarge

In appreciation of his bowling feats in 2005, Shane Warne has been named the BBC's Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

Warne, 36, was the most successful bowler in Australia's losing campaign in this past summer's Ashes series in England with 40 wickets, and he is also Test cricket's leading wicket-taker with 645 victims.

"Shane Warne has entertained cricket fans for years with his outstanding talent and contributed enormously to a thrilling Ashes series," said Philip Bernie, a BBC programme editor. "His extraordinary achievements on the field, combined with his charismatic personality have made him a true sporting superstar, and an extremely worthy winner of this award."

Warne pipped rivals Fernando Alonso, the Formula One champion, Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, and Roger Federer, the current Wimbledon champion, to bag BBC's accolade. "I am very proud of this achievement and am delighted to receive this award," said Warne to BBC Sport. He is set to receive the award from Richie Benaud, the former Australian legspinner.