Sciver-Brunt and Root up for awards

ENGLAND batsman Joe Root and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt have been shortlisted for two International Cricket Council awards.

Root has been nominated for the ICC men’s Test cricketer of the year alongside Ravi Ashwin, of India, and the Australian pair of Travis Head and Usman Khawaja.

Yorkshireman Root, 33, scored 787 runs in the format last year, scoring two centuries alongside five half-centuries. He recorded a high score of 153 not out against New Zealand in February and was part of the England side who came from 2-0 down to draw the Ashes series over the summer.

Root, who will be hoping to reclaim the award he won in 2021, averaged 65.58, his best figures since 2014.

Sciver-Brunt is nominated for ICC women’s cricketer of the year following her shortlisting for ICC women’s ODI cricketer of the year. The all-rounder contends for the top award with Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and the Australian duo Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.

Sciver-Brunt, 31, has excelled in all three formats over the year and will be looking to retain the title she earned in 2022 as well as the ODI cricketer of the year crown.

England’s Lauren Bell has been shortlisted for emerging women’s cricketer of the year, while spin bowler Sophie Ecclestone will be looking to land the women’s T20I cricketer of the year award.

■ David Warner has said he is “relieved” to be reunited with his baggy green Australia cricket cap.

The opener issued a public plea for the cap’s return on Tuesday after it went missing in transit from Melbourne ahead of the third Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground – Warner’s last Test before his retirement from the longest form of the game.

The search for Warner’s “baggy green” has made headline news in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joining the calls for its return.

However, the 37-year-old revealed it had been found in an Instagram post on Friday.

He said: “I’m pleased and relieved that I have got my baggy back in my hands.

“Any cricketer knows how special their cap is and I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life.

“Very grateful to all those involved in locating it: the Qantas team, the freight company, the hotel and our team management.

“It’s a load off my shoulders going into the last couple of days; I really appreciate it, thank you.”