Triple triumph for Root at Englands annual award

LONDON: Joe Root was named Test Player of the Year, Limited-Overs Player of the Year and Fans Player of the Year at England’s annual awards ceremony on Monday.The Yorkshire batsman, 25, hit two centuries in England’s Ashes triumph last year, scored four one-day tons and was his team’s leading scorer at the recent World Twenty20 tournament in India.He overcame competition from Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes for the Test award and edged Jos Buttler and David Willey in the Limited-Overs category with both prizes decided upon by a media poll.’It’s been a remarkable year for our international teams’, said England and Wales Cricket Board CEO Tom Harrison. ‘The women’s Ashes attracted record attendances and unprecedented levels of media interest.’Our physical disability team won the inaugural Physical Disability World Cup in Bangladesh and our men’s team regained the Ashes, won a major Test series in South Africa and reached the final of the World T20 tournament.Each of the players honoured tonight, has made a big contribution to England cricket, helping to win matches and to inspire a wider audience and deserves the highest praise.The awards were handed out at a celebratory dinner in the northern English city of Leeds which stages England’s first Test against Sri Lanka later this week.Somerset’s Anya Shrubsole was voted Women’s Player of the Year with veteran England skipper Charlotte Edwards who recently announced her international retirement taking home the fans prize.There was also a Special Achievement Award for former England coach turned Sky Sports commentator David Lloyd.’