Gambhir is Test player of the year

India opener Gautam Gambhir has been named Test Player of the Year at the ICC awards ceremony in Johannesburg. Gambhir, who claimed his first ICC award of his career, was picked ahead of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera and England captain Andrew Strauss.

During the 12-month voting period, Gambhir put in some remarkable performances with the bat, making 1269 runs at an impressive 84.60 in the eight Tests he played. He scored five centuries and four half-centuries during the period.

Upon collecting the award from Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian captain, the 27-year-old Gambhir said: "It's been a dream run for me. I never thought it could be like this but life has changed for me and I am very happy.

"As a unit we have played very well and I am just glad to contribute to the overall success of the team."