Charlotte Edwards wins ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2008
England captain Charlotte Edwards has won the Women's Cricketer of the Year award at the LG ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai.
During the voting period Edwards played 18 ODIs for England scoring 492 runs at the top of the order at an average of 54.66. She also took 15 wickets at 19.03 with her more-than-useful leg-spin.
In the only Test match she played during the voting period, Edwards scored 94 and 14 not out as England beat Australia by six wickets at Bowral, New South Wales.
The 28-year-old Kent player took the award ahead of team-mate Claire Taylor, Nicola Browne of New Zealand and Australia's Lisa Sthalekar.
Accepting the award in Dubai from India legend Ravi Shastri, Edwards said: "Winning the Ashes in Australia was the highlight of the year for me. It was a great feeling.
"The ICC World Twenty20 is the talk of England at the moment and getting the chance to play in that alongside the guys is great for us. Before that, of course, we have the ICC Women's World Cup in Australia so it's a big year ahead for us.
"This is a massive night for women's cricket. It's a huge honour for me to be involved with a ceremony like this - I'm so glad that the ICC is recognising the women's game. It's a big moment for the other girls who have been nominated for this and I am honoured to be included in that short-list, let alone win it.
"Women's cricket has a big year ahead. It's fantastic for the game and an exciting time to be involved in women's cricket," she said.
Congratulating Edwards, KW Kim, chief executive of LG Electronics Middle East and Africa Regional Company, said: "I am pleased to declare that women's cricket is alive and thriving due to the outstanding contributions and the determination of some of the finest players through the years.
"We are delighted that the ICC has recognized their achievements and has played a leading role in encouraging more women cricketers to actively take up the sport. Charlotte's efforts in the past 12 months or so have been remarkable and she fully deserves this award," he said.
The Women's Cricketer of the Year Award was one of eight individual prizes given at this year's LG ICC Awards.
The nominations for the Women's Cricketer of the Year Award were decided after each of the world's top 10 teams was given the opportunity to nominate two players. This award was then voted on by a 16-person voting academy featuring former players and other experts on the women's game.
The LG ICC Awards 2008 - presented in association with FICA - are based on the 12 months between 9 August 2007 and 12 August 2008. The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its fifth year and this is the first time it has been staged in Dubai, the home of the International Cricket Council. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006) and Johannesburg (2007).