Finn scoops ICC award

England fast bowler Steven Finn was been acknowledged for his impressive start to life as an international cricketer by being named ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year.

The Middlesex paceman beat off competition from 15 other players – including England team-mates Eoin Morgan and Tim Bresnan – to scoop the accolade at the ICC Awards in Bangalore.

Finn has made a barnstorming start to his Test career, playing in six Test matches during the voting period and taking 27 wickets at an average of 21.85.

Upon receiving his award, the 21-year-old said: “It’s a great honour to win this an award I wasn’t expecting and I’m very pleased and honoured to be playing Test match cricket for my country.
Prepared

“I’ve enjoyed the last few months representing my country and I hope it continues.

“Next up is the Ashes and I think we’re well prepared to win the series – we’ve got a settled side ready to go for this winter.”

India batsman Virender Sehwag was named ICC’s Player of the Year, edging out England’s Graeme Swann in the process.

Sehwag scored 1,282 Test runs at 85.46 in 10 Tests in the 12-month voting period, of which India won six of the Tests and drew two.

India team-mates Sachin Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also made the ICC’s Test Team of the Tear, which featured two Englishmen in Swann and James Anderson.

South African AB de Villiers won the one-day player of the year award, the right-handed batsman scoring 855 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 71.25 during the voting period.

Also recognised for his efforts was umpire Aleem Dar, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for the second time after being named ICC Umpire of the Year.

Dar, from Pakistan, was voted to this award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, based on his decision statistics and officiating skills over the past 12 months.