Alastair Cook is Test Cricketer of the Year
Alastair Cook, the England opener, has been named the Test Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in London
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Sep-2011
Alastair Cook followed up a phenomenal Ashes with a monumental 294 against India to seal the Test award • Associated Press
England opener Alastair Cook has been named the Test Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in London. Cook beat off competition from his team-mates James Anderson and Jonathan Trott, and South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis.
"I think the highlight of year was when we won in Sydney to beat Australia, and Chris Tremlett to take that final wicket, it was truly a great year," Cook said after receiving the award from ICC Hall of Fame inductee Curtly Ambrose. "This award is about the rest of the team not just me."
During the performance period - from August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 - Cook played 12 Tests and in 18 innings he scored 1302 runs at an average of 76.58, including six centuries and four half-centuries. His 235 not out against Australia in Brisbane kick-started England's first Ashes victory away from home since 1986-87.
Cook finished the Ashes with a phenomenal tally of 766 runs, but his best batting effort came against India at Edgbaston, where his monumental 294 helped England seal the series and knock India off the No. 1 Test spot.