England women's captain Charlotte Edwards was named yesterday as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year,

Edwards and England men's cricketer Joe Root are joined by Australian Ashes winners Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers and destructive India opener Shikhar Dhawan, in an edition which identifies South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn as its leading cricketer in the World.

Edwards is only the second woman to win the prestigious award - her compatriot Claire Taylor was included five years ago. She celebrated back-to-back Ashes victories home and away in the space of six months providing a compelling case on all counts.

She spoke of her pride at Wisden's recognition of her achievements.

"These kind of awards, I would not have dreamt of winning when I was starting my career when I was 16," she said.

"To think of all the players that have come before me who have won these awards, it makes me feel very proud."

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier added his personal congratulations.

"Charlotte has been an integral part of the England women's team for nearly two decades and her outstanding achievements both as a captain and as a batsman mean she has earned the right to be recognised as one of this country's leading sportswomen," he said.

"She is also a fantastic ambassador for the wider women's game who plays a major role in inspiring more young women and girls to take up the game through her work for Chance to Shine.

"I'm sure everyone connected with women's cricket will want to join me in congratulating Charlotte on earning such a prestigious award."

Root's award comes little more than 16 months after his international debut and follows not just an outstanding Ashes summer for him and England but a winter in which neither player nor team excelled in the slightest on the way to a 5-0 whitewash down under.

In its press testimony for Root's inclusion, Wisden in keeping with tradition, to the young Yorkshireman's deeds last summer.

"Two memorable innings helped Joe Root become the leading English batsman in the national averages," the almanac stated.

"He was the first Yorkshire player to make his maiden Test century at Headingley when he took 104 off New Zealand in May and he then became the youngest England batsman to score an Ashes hundred at Lord's with 180 in July."