ICC Men’s Test cricketer of the year

International Cricket Council England captain Joe Root has been named men's Test cricketer of the year by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Despite a challenging year for his team, Root scored 1,708 runs in Tests in 2021, the third most in a calendar year. 

He had two double centuries and four hundreds, including 3 in a row against India in Tests. 

Root was also nominated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year, but Pakistani spinner Shaheen Afridi won the title.  

Root, 31, stated, "I am incredibly proud to receive this award," He is the second Englishman to win the Test cricketer title, following Alastair Cook in 2011.

England only won four of 15 Tests in 2021, including the Ashes in Australia and series against India and New Zealand, but Root was a cut above the rest of his team's batsmen.

Congratulations, Root!