Trott, Greenway win Cricketer of the Year awards

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday announced that Jonathan Trott and Lydia Greenway have won the ECB Men?s and Women?s Cricketer of the Year Awards respectively, whilst batsman Umesh Valjee from West London received the England Disability Cricketer of the Year Award.

The Awards evening, which was held in the Long Room at Lord?s Cricket Ground, was hosted by the ECB and Brit Insurance, the sponsor of all England cricket teams. It provides an opportunity for the players, media and wider cricketing community to look back and celebrate the achievements of all England cricket teams over the past twelve months.

The winner of the ECB Men?s Cricketer of the Year, Jonathan Trott, was selected by the British cricket media. The Award is given to the player that has had the greatest impact on England?s performances, since the start of the 2010 international season until the final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

In that time Trott has enjoyed a hugely successful year, playing 32 times for his country and scoring 2,246 runs at an average of 68.06. This included seven centuries and a high score of 226, scored against Bangladesh at Lord?s last summer. During the Ashes his average of 89 was second only to Alastair Cook, whilst his first over run out of Simon Katich during the second Test Match in Adelaide, helped set England on the road to Ashes victory. In winning the Award, Trott saw off strong competition from his England colleagues Andrew Strauss, James Anderson, Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann.

Upon receiving the Award, Jonathan Trott said: ?I am both extremely humbled and proud to have been named England Cricketer of the Year after what has clearly been the most enjoyable year of my cricketing career so far.

"It is an honour to represent England and it has been a privilege to be involved in such a successful, hard working team. I wouldn't have won this award with the commitment and support of my team mates. This award really belongs to the entire England squad and management team that have provided such a supportive and professional environment that has allowed me to prosper as a cricketer and a person.

"There is still much hard work to be done and improvement to be made and I look forward to making further contributions to a successful England team for a long as possible."

The England Women?s Cricketer of the Year was selected by a panel of experts that comprised Clare Connor, the Guardian?s Mike Selvey, Sky Sports? Nick Knight and England coach Mark Lane.

Widely recognised as the best fielder in the women?s game, Kent batswoman Lydia Greenway has enjoyed an excellent year of international cricket. Her consistency with the bat saw her named the player of the Series on two occasions in the last twelve months, firstly during the NatWest Women?s ODI Series against New Zealand last summer and then again in the T20I Series against Australia this winter, as England beat the current ICC World Champions 4-1.

On receiving this Award for the first time, Greenway, said: ?I?m delighted to be named as the Women?s Cricketer of the Year for 2011. To take the award when playing amongst so many talented cricketers makes it all the more special.

?I?ve been really pleased with my performance and it?s a great feeling to contribute to the team?s success. I hope to continue this over the course of the summer as we look ahead to the NatWest Women?s Quadrangular Series.?

Umesh Valjee made his international debut in 1992 and has played 54 times for the England deaf cricket team, 41 of those as captain. In that time he has scored 2,638 runs and averages 49 in Test cricket and 47 in One Day Internationals. His high score of 186 was scored against Australia at the Sydney University Cricket Ground in 2004.

Valjee started playing cricket at the age of 15 for West London Deaf CC, before going to play for Stanmore in the Middlesex County Cricket League. Over the course of his career he has played 2nd XI cricket for Hampshire and Gloucestershire as well as representing MCC and the Cricket Club Conference on tours to Australia and Zimbabwe. During England?s tour to Australia last winter he scored three centuries for England in the first four games and was named the player of the Series.

Commenting on the announcement of the three winners David Collier, ECB Chief Executive said: ?This has been a year to remember for all England?s Cricketers. In the last twelve months our Men?s team retained the Ashes, winning a Series in Australia for the first time since 1987, whilst our Women?s team enjoyed a superb Twenty20 Series victory this winter, against the current ICC World Champions.

?On behalf of everyone involved in English cricket I would like to congratulate Jonathan Trott, Lydia Greenway and Umesh Valjee on their respective Awards. With such an exciting summer of cricket ahead for all our national teams, I would like to thank not only the players, but also the backroom staff for all the hard work and dedication you have shown over the course of the last twelve months. The success you enjoyed and manner in which you have gone about your business has been a credit to our sport and I?m sure has been an inspiration to the millions of cricket fans across the country.?