Australia Bowler Mitchell Johnson Named ICC Cricketer of the Year After Ashes Success

Australia's Mitchell Johnson has been named the cricketer of the year, and test cricketer of the year, by the International Cricket Council.

The fast bowler scooped his second Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after inspiring Australia to their 5-0 thrashing of England in the Ashes series down under in December 2013, where he finished with bowling figures of seven for 40 in Adelaide.

Johnson, 33, also fired his country to victory in their 2-1 series win over South Africa, boasting an impressive record of 59 Test wickets at an average 15.23 between the voting period of August 2013 and September 2014.

In being named cricketer of the year for the second time after his 2009 success, Johnson becomes only the second player after Ricky Ponting to win the award twice.

Johnson edged out Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews, as well as South Africa's AB de Villiers to secure his latest triumph.

"I'm very happy with where I am at the moment and I want to keep getting better as a cricketer," Johnson said.

"This is something that I'll be able to look back on in time when my career is over and be exceptionally proud of."

There was plenty of consolation for England however as batsman Gary Ballance was named emerging cricketer of the year while Stuart Broad and Joe Root were named in the Test team of the year.

Sarah Taylor was also named the women's ODI player of the year.