Aleem Dar wins the ICC Umpire of the Year award

 Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar won the David Shepherd Trophy for the third time after being named Umpire of the Year at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards in London.

Dar was voted for this award by 10 full member captains as well as an eight-man elite panel of ICC Match Referees, based on his decision statistics and officiating skills over the past 12 months.

Dar started his international career as an umpire in 2000 and joined the Elite Panel in 2004

England batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were named respectively test player of the year and player of the year at the ceremony hosted by the sport’s governing body.

Cook, the 26-year-old opener who was appointed one day captain after the World Cup this year – shone during the year peaking with a masterly 294 in the third Test victory over India in August, though, that fell outside the time frame for the award.

It was his third test century in six matches and 19th in all and is now just three shy of England’s all-time record Test century total.

It represents quite a turnaround in the genial Cook’s fortunes as a year ago he was close to being dropped before reviving his career with a hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.

It proved to be the springboard for a triumphant tour of Australia where he scored 766 runs, including three centuries, as England won the Ashes 3-1.

During the performance period, he played 12 Tests and in 18 innings, he compiled 1,302 runs at an average of 51.74, including six centuries and four half-centuries.

His highest score of 235 not out against Australia at Brisbane helped his team towards series victory as it won the Ashes away from home for the first time since the 1986-87 season.

The independent voting academy of 25 cricket experts put Cook first, ahead of an impressive group of players that had been short-listed, including England team-mates Trott and James Anderson, as well as Jacques Kallis of South Africa, who previously won this award in 2005.

“I think the highlight of year was when we won in Sydney, to beat Australia and Chris Tremlett to take that final wicket it was truly a great year,” said Cook.

“This award is about the rest of the team not just me.”

The ICC later named Trott as their cricketer of the year.

“I never envisaged winning this award and it’s a brilliant feeling to be recognised,” Trott said.

Trott, who alongside Cook was a bedrock of England’s victory in Australia last winter with 445 runs, took the award ahead of fellow short-list nominees Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla.

After receiving the award at a dinner, Trott spoke of his delight at an accolade that honoured not just his but England’s achievements over the last 12 months.

Asked for his favourite memory, the South Africa-born batsman had no hesitation nominating not one of his innings but his run-out of Australia’s Simon Katich on the first morning of the second Test in Adelaide.

“That run-out in the first over of the game – it was the first time I’ve ever got to run around a cricket field like a football striker scoring a goal,” he said.

“That was the best highlight for me – although I have to say as a team Melbourne was special.”

It was at the MCG that England retained the Ashes.

Source:tribune