McGrath named world player of the year

LONDON, July 3 AAP - Australian pacemen Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee tonight combined to knock over the two major awards at a ceremony in London, being named international cricket of the year and young cricketer of the year.

The awards were presented at the annual Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) ceremony in London, and were judged by a panel of experts from each Test playing nation.

McGrath, currently playing county cricket with Worcestershire, won player of the year ahead of a field comprising another Australian Ricky Ponting, South Africans Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener, Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar, and New Zealand's Chris Cairns.

Lee, who shot to fame in the Australian summer, beat out an impressive list of rivals including Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar, his compatriot, all-rounder Abdur Razzaq, and West Indian Reon King. FICA president, former South African great Barry Richards, said McGrath was a great player at the top of his game.

"Brett Lee is a young man representing a new generation of exciting fast bowlers," he said.

"The awards are a testament to their stature in the world of cricket and they are both worthy winners."

International player of the year in 1999 was Brian Lara and the international young player was Jacques Kallis.