Monday 9 June 2014 23:28, UK
Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell has been named England's cricketer of the year for 2013-14.
The 32-year-old Coventry-born player shone during last summer’s Ashes series, making three hundreds and two half-centuries to help England retain the urn.
He was also part of the ODI team that finished runners-up to India in the ICC Champions Trophy and earned a recall to the England Twenty20 squad for the tour of the West Indies.
During the summer series on home soil, Bell became the first man since Chris Broad in 1986/87 to reach 100 in three consecutive Ashes Tests, averaging 62.44 for the five-match series. He was also named man of the series.
Speaking about his award, which he picked up at a dinner held in the Long Room at Lord's, Bell said: "It is something to be proud of, for sure.
"There were other outstanding performances throughout the year too, even if the winter didn't go to plan.
"Only Michael Clarke and I passed 1,000 Test runs for the year, so that is an achievement in itself. It is only the second time I've done it in my career."
Bell's England team-mates Stuart Broad and Joe Root were the other nominees for the award.
Charlotte Edwards received the Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award for leading England to back-to-back Ashes series successes, as well as producing consistent form with the bat.
She beat off competition from fellow nominees Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole and Sarah Taylor.
Under-19 skipper and Yorkshire teenager Will Rhodes won the England Development Programme award, while Stephen George collected the Disability Cricketer of the Year prize for his displays as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
