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Rahul Dravid is Player of the Year
Dravid was named both Player of the Year and Test Player of the Year at the awards ceremony. Pics
India batsman Rahul Dravid was crowned Player of the Year and Test Player of the Year at the inaugural International Cricket Council (ICC) awards at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.
And there was further joy for India when left-arm quick Irfan Pathan was crowned Emerging Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was chosen as One-Day International Player of the Year.
Although world champions Australia, also the world's best Test team, did not win any of the individual awards — apart from Simon Taufel's Umpire of the Year — they did see captain Ricky Ponting chosen to lead both Test and One-Day International Teams of the Year.
In total five players made it into both Test and one-day sides with three from Australia — Ponting, wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist and fast bowler Jason Gillespie.
Sri Lanka quick Chaminda Vaas and South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis also made it into both teams.
In the year under consideration, from August 1, 2003 to July 31, 2004, 31-year-old Dravid scored 1,241 runs in nine matches at an average of 95.46.
That included a Test-best 270 against Pakistan in April. In the vote taken from the ICC's voting academy, which included all 10 current Test captains, Dravid polled 82 votes.
"It's unbelievable really, Dravid said on receiving his Player of the Year award, the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy named in honour of the great West Indian all-rounder.
"I think better preparation and a more relaxed state of mind have been the keys to my success this year," Dravid added.
Hayden finished second with 53 votes with England fast bowler Stephen Harmison third with 38 and Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan fourth with 30.
