Kent's Charlotte Edwards is named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year

ECB Chief Executive David Collier today praised the achievement of Kent and England captain Charlotte Edwards MBE after she became only the second women’s cricketer to be named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

Edwards, who led England Women to back-to-back Ashes triumphs against Australia over the past twelve months, has earned the same honour as former England batsman Claire Taylor who was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2009.

Today’s announcement represents another accolade for the Kent batsman who was named captain of the ICC’s Women’s World T20 Team of the Tournament for a second successive time earlier this week.

She joins England batsman Joe Root as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year along with Shikhar Dhawan, Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers.

Commenting on the award, ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “Charlotte has been an integral part of the England Women’s team for nearly two decades and her outstanding achievements both as a captain and as a batsman mean she has earned the right to be recognised as one of this country’s leading sportswomen.

"She is also a fantastic ambassador for the wider women’s game who plays a major role in inspiring more young women and girls to take up the game through her work for Chance to Shine. I’m sure everyone connected with women’s cricket will want to join me in congratulating Charlotte on earning such a prestigious award.”

ECB’s Head of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor added: “Charlotte can be enormously proud of what she has achieved in her international career over the past 18 years; she has proved herself time and time again to be an inspirational leader, a wonderfully gifted batsman and a consummate professional. It’s great to see success in the women’s game being recognised in this way and this honour is thoroughly well-deserved.”