Despite a dismal winter for English cricket, captain Joe Root has been named ICC men's Test cricketer of the year.
The Yorkshireman has been a shining light in what was no doubt a year to forget for England and their Test exploits, which was capped off by a disappointing 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia during the Ashes.
Root amassed an impressive 1,708 runs with the bat during 2021, the third most by any player during a calendar year in Test history.
The skipper's highest score of the year came last January, after he starred against Sri Lanka in Galle with a knock of 228 off 321 balls on the way to a seven-wicket win.
As well as his double century in Galle, Root also picked one up against India in Chennai, as well as adding a further four centuries to his glittering CV throughout 2021.
The England skipper also came away with a remarkable average of 61 with the bat, after playing in 15 Tests and batting 29 innings.
In a statement the England skipper admitted he was 'incredibly proud to receive the award' and 'very humbled'.
On becoming the first England player since Sir Alastair Cook to scoop the award he said:"“I am incredibly proud to receive this award.
"I am very humbled to be in the same breath as a number of wonderful players around the world and it means a huge amount to have got this award."
Root performed above and beyond the rest of his England teammates throughout 2021, amassing three times as many runs as any of his compatriots, with Rory Burns coming in second on 530.
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His mesmerising performances against India - both on home and away soil - were no doubt ones to be remembered, with four of his six three-figure scores coming against Virat Kohli's team.
The Yorkshireman revealed his most memorable of the year was his ton against India in Chennai in what was his 100th Test.
He said: "If there was one hundred that really sticks out it would probably be in Chennai against India.
"With it being my 100th game it is something that will live long in the memory."
Root will now be desperate to turnaround England's fortunes in Test cricket, following their troubling year which culminated in the hammering against old foes Australia Down Under.
