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DUBAI. — Australia captain Steve Smith has been named ICC cricketer of the year for 2015, the sport’s Dubai-based governing body revealed yesterday.

The 26-year-old finished the year, which runs from September to September, as the leading test run-scorer with 1 734 runs from 25 innings, averaging 82.57.

He also became the second youngest player to reach the number one ranking for test batsmen behind Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Smith thus became the fourth Australian to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in its 12th edition, following in the footsteps of Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007), Mitchell Johnson (2009 and 2014) and Michael Clarke (2013). He was also adjudged the test cricketer of the year, although while he was a part of the Australia team that won the World Cup in the one-day format, he captained his country in their Ashes defeat to England.

“Given that there are so many great players around the world, I’m incredibly honoured to receive these awards,” said Smith in a statement released by the ICC.

While team success is always my number-one motivation, awards like this are very special. I’m thrilled and very proud to receive them. “I will look back on 2015 with mixed feelings. Winning the ICC Cricket World Cup at home was a career highlight, and being appointed captain is a great honour, but the disappointment of losing the Ashes remains.” — AFP.