Siddle named ICC Emerging Player of the Year

Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has won the Emerging Player of the Year award at the ICC Awards ceremony in Johannesburg. The 24-year-old, who played in 12 Test matches in the voting period, took 49 wickets with an average of 28.93 and made an impact playing for Australia side with his charging run-up and powerful delivery.

Siddle's best bowling figures in an innings during the voting period came against England when he took 5 for 21 in 9.5 overs in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. He had earlier taken another five-for, against South Africa in Sydney.

Siddle was the top choice for the 25-member voting academy, coming in ahead of team-mate Ben Hilfenhaus, England fast bowler Graham Onions and New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder.

Receiving his award from Rahul Dravid, Siddle said: "Getting to represent my country is an enormous honour and it has been a great time for me to be part of the team. It's been very enjoyable.

"I'm very pleased. It has been an amazing 12 months and part of it is down to the blokes I've been playing with. It is quite a young group, with Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus especially, we all keep each other going and we have all had a lot of success," he said.

The selection panel for the long list was made up of West Indies legend Clive Lloyd and included former India captain Anil Kumble, former England wicketkeeper Bob Taylor, former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.