Ponting named ICC's Cricketer of the Year

JOHANNESBURG, Sep 11 (Reuters) Australia captain Ricky Ponting capped another excellent year by picking up the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricketer of the Year award for the second successive year.

''I am the first player to win this award twice in a row and it's a great thrill for me and something I am very proud of,'' Ponting, who was also named Captain of the Year, said yesterday after being presented with the Garfield Sobers Trophy.

Prolific Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf won the Test Player of the Year award while another Australian, Matthew Hayden, was named as the ODI Player of the Year after his leading role in winning the World Cup.

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait's explosive entry into international cricket won him the Emerging Player of the Year award. Sri Lanka were honoured with the Spirit of Cricket acknowledgement.

Reuters TB RN0443