Steve Waugh is Wisden Australia's cricketer of the year

Australia's cricket captain Steve Waugh has been named Wisden Australia's cricketer of the year.

Waugh is the third recipient of the award established by Australia's version of the cricketing Bible.

Belinda Clark, captain of Australia's women's team, won the inaugural award in 1998 and Test paceman Glenn McGrath was awarded it last year.

Editor Gideon Haigh said Friday he was impressed with Waugh's captaincy since taking over from Mark Taylor early last year. Haigh praised Waugh's efforts into moulding the Australian Test team into arguably one of the best combinations in the modern cricketing era.

"This season they have a chance to challenge the existing record of the West Indies of 11 consecutive victories back in 1984," Haigh said.

Mail Cricket Editor