YORKSHIRE batsman Gary Ballance has won the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Player of the Year award.
Ballance was rewarded for his international performances with the bat between August 26, 2013 and September 17, 2014.
In that period, the left-hander scored 990 international runs in nine Test matches and 12 one-day internationals.
The 24-year-old scored three Test centuries against Sri Lanka and India during the most recent summer, and he won the award ahead of England team-mate Ben Stokes and New Zealand all-round duo Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson.
“Since coming into the England Test side in January this year, Gary Ballance has been exceptional,” said ECB chairman Giles Clarke.
“For a young player to make such a huge impact in his first full year in the England set-up is very special, and I hope that he can now use this platform to have a long and successful career in the international game.”
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson won the ICC Cricketer of the Year and the Test Cricketer of the Year awards.
Yorkshire women’s fast bowler Katherine Brunt won the ICC Spirit of Cricket award and former Yorkshire player Richard Kettleborough was named as the Umpire of the Year.
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