Agencies
LONDON, JUN 10
Batsman Ian Bell was named England Cricketer of the Year for 2013-14 in recognition of his outstanding performances in the home Ashes series victory over Australia last season.
The 32-year-old, who has played 98 Tests and 146 one-day internationals, scored three centuries and two fifties in England’s 2013 3-0 home Ashes win.
“It’s a real honour to get this,” said Bell, who made his Test debut in 2004. “Some great players have won it.”
His 562 runs proved the difference between the sides with his 109 in the second test in Nottingham, his second Ashes century, helping his team to a 14-run victory. England captain Charlotte Edwards, who led her team in back-to-back Ashes series wins against Australia, won the women’s award.
Will Rhodes, who led England Under-19s to third place at the Under-19 World Cup and also made his Yorkshire first-team debut last summer, won the England Development Programme award.
Stephen George, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Paignton in Devon, was named Disability Cricketer of the Year for his part in the England Deaf Squad’s 6-0 series whitewash of South Africa.
“It has taken a while for me but since 2009 my cricket has got better and better,” said Warwickshire right-hander Bell. “I was probably guilty of getting good runs at an easy time, but over the last five years I have started to get runs when it really mattered for the team.”
Having beaten Australia at home, England were resoundingly beaten 5-0 when the teams met again down under.
Bell, who made two fifties in that series at an average of 26, admitted the schedule was punishing.
“Ten Ashes Test matches on the bounce is the hardest period of cricket I’ve ever played,” he said. “Test cricket is hard enough, but I think Ashes cricket is that next level up.”
