England cricket team shortlisted in Laureus awards

15/12/2011

The England cricket team has been shortlisted for the world team of the year prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Andrew Strauss's men - who went top of the Test rankings after whitewashing India 4-0 - have been nominated alongside the Rugby World Cup winning New Zealand side, Champions League winners Barcelona, the Red Bull Formula One team, the Japanese women's football team and NBA winners Dallas Mavericks.

The ceremony will be held in London in February and if England prevail, fans in the midlands will be able see the Laureus winners in Test match action in late May against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Edwin Moses said it will be "extremely difficult" to pick the winning teams and individuals.

Trent Bridge was the scene of one of England's victories over India last summer, in a match remembered for Stuart Broad's hat-trick, India's sportsmanship in recalling Ian Bell after a farcical run-out and the record Test victory by a margin of runs (319) by a team trailing on first innings.

By Ted Walker