Steve Smith declared as ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2017

Jan.18 (CRICKETNMORE) - Australia captain Steve Smith won his maiden ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.

This was the 28-year-old’s third ICC award, having lifted the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2015, which had made him only the seventh player to win the two awards in the same year.

In the voting period, Smith scored 1,875 runs in 16 Tests with eight centuries and five half-centuries.

Reacting to the announcement, Smith said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award for the second time, having won it in 2015 as well. It’s called Test cricket for a reason, and I’ve enjoyed that test of my ability over the past 12 months.

“I got six Test hundreds for the year in 2017, which I was pleased about. I was pleased with the way I played but what pleased me most of all was that I helped us win Tests and, most importantly, The Ashes. To make a contribution in big matches and in big series and assist the team is what it is all about for me, and if I’m doing that then there’s a good chance that awards like this will follow.”

ICC Media Release