England and Kent captain Charlotte Edwards has become only the second ever woman to be named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.

34-year-old Edwards, awarded an MBE in 2009 for her services to cricket, has won five Ashes series with England, as well as the World Cup and the World T20, and led her country to back-to-back Ashes victories in the last year.

Edwards’ former England teammate Claire Taylor is the only other female cricketer to have been awarded the honour, having been named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2009.

The Kent opening batter was also named captain of the ICC’s Women’s World T20 Team of the Tournament for a second successive time earlier this week.

Commenting on the award, ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “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.

“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.”

ECB’s Head of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor added: “Charlotte can be enormously proud of what she has achieved in her international career over the past 18 years; she has proved herself time and time again to be an inspirational leader, a wonderfully gifted batsman and a consummate professional.

“It’s great to see success in the women’s game being recognised in this way and this honour is thoroughly well-deserved.”