ICC awards ceremony – Trott takes top prize

Over 2000 international runs in the past year, six centuries and 12 half-centuries – Jonathan Trott was the only man who could have won the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy at the ICC Awards 2011 on Monday evening. Put simply, he has been the best player in the world these past 12 months.

England's Jonathan Trott with the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy. He richly deserved the award and his face even cracked into a smile

Trott has been the epitome of consistency across the Test and ODI arenas, scoring runs everywhere against everyone. Hashim Amla ran him close, but Trott was far more consistent than Alastair Cook and Sachin Tendulkar, the other nominees.

Cook, who hasn’t had a bad year himself, was decorated as Test Cricketer of the Year thanks to 1302 runs at an average of 76.58, including six hundreds and a magnificent Ashes series Down Under. That after a torrid time in the summer of 2010 at the hands of a rampant Pakistan bowling attack.

Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara scooped two awards. One for ODI Cricketer of the Year, a format in which he excelled, he amassed over 1000 runs and a World Cup final appearance. He also won the People’s Choice Award. Lovely bloke, Kumar, who also delivered a moving Sprit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s this July.

The Spirit of Cricket award went to India captain MS Dhoni for his recalling of Ian Bell in controversial circumstances at Trent Bridge this summer. The spirit was not continued as India caused a stir by refusing to attend the awards ceremony itself. Dhoni’s award thus went uncollected.

In other awards, young West Indies leg spinner Divendra Bishoo beat compatriot Darren Bravo and Pakistani duo Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali to the Emerging Player Award. The youngster is certainly one to watch and hopefully his career can progress unaffected by the continued madness at the WICB. We can but hope…

Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate, for the third time in four years, scooped the ICC Associate and Affiliate award.

Tim Southee, the Kiwi bowler, won Twenty20 Performance of the Year for his 5/18 in Auckland against Pakistan.

Stefanie Taylor, the West Indies all-rounder, was awarded the Women’s Cricketer of the Year prize.

Aleem Dar has been recognised as the world's best umpire for the third time running

The David Shepherd trophy for the Umpire of the Year award went, for the third consecutive year, to lego-haired Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar – his barnet really does compare to that you’d stick on a lego figure. Immaculate hair and immaculate decisions; Billy Bowden should take note…