JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Australia captain Ricky Ponting capped another excellent year by picking up the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricketer of the Year award for the second successive year yesterday.

"I am the first player to win this award twice in a row and it's a great thrill for me and something I am very proud of," Ponting, who was also named Captain of the Year, said after being presented with the Garfield Sobers Trophy.