Watson stands alone as England dominate ICC award nominees

Shane Watson is the only Australian nominated as the International Cricketer of the Year.

Australia's standing in world cricket was laid bare by the nominations for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award with Shane Watson the only player to make the 'long list' of candidates on Wednesday.

While allrounder Watson flew the flag for Australia, eight of England's Ashes winners were nominated.

Andrew Strauss, the England captain, led the way and he was joined among the contenders by fellow opener Alastair Cook, who scored 766 runs at 127.66 during the 3-1 Test series win in Australia.

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Also included in the 17-man list were England's Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett and James Anderson.

The award-winners will be named at a ceremony in London on September 12.

If England win the ongoing third Test against India at Edgbaston they will rise to the top of the ICC's Test Championship table and replace India at the summit of the five-day game.

India have just the three nominees for player of the year.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and injured paceman Zaheer Khan are all contenders for the Sir Garfield Sobers award, while they are joined by bowlers Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh in the Test category.

India won the World Cup on home soil in April and this is reflected in their seven nominations for the One-Day International Player of the Year award including captain Dhoni.

The long lists were selected by a five-man ICC Panel chaired by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, with performances considered in the period between August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011.

ICC award nominees

Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy):

Hashim Amla (RSA), James Anderson (ENG), Ian Bell (ENG), Stuart Broad (ENG), Alastair Cook (ENG), Rahul Dravid (IND), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Zaheer Khan (IND), Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Andrew Strauss (ENG), Graeme Swann (ENG), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Chris Tremlett (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS)

Test Player of the Year:

Hashim Amla (RSA), James Anderson (ENG), Ian Bell (ENG), Stuart Broad (ENG), Alastair Cook (ENG), Rahul Dravid (IND), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Zaheer Khan (IND), Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK), Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Ishant Sharma (IND), Harbhajan Singh (IND), Dale Steyn (RSA), Graeme Swann (ENG), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Chris Tremlett (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS)

ODI Player of the Year:

Hashim Amla (RSA), Michael Clarke (AUS), MS Dhoni (IND), Gautam Gambhir (IND), Mohammed Hafeez (PAK), Mahela Jayawardene (SRI), Zaheer Khan (IND), Virat Kohli (IND), Lasith Malinga (SRI), Munaf Patel (IND), Saeed Ajmal (PAK), Shakib Al Hasan (BAN), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Virender Sehwag (IND), Yuvraj Singh (IND), Tim Southee (NZL), Dale Steyn (RSA), Graeme Swann (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS).

AFP