Jonathan Trott last night pipped his fellow Ashes-winner Alastair Cook to the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy Award for the International Cricket Council's Cricketer of the Year.

Trott, who alongside Cook was a bedrock of England's victory in Australia last winter with 445 runs from number three, took the award ahead of fellow short-list nominees Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla.

After receiving the award at a dinner at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, Trott spoke of his delight at an accolade that honoured not just his but England's achievements over the last 12 months.

Asked for his favourite memory, the South Africa-born batsman nominated not one of his innings, but his run-out of Australia's Simon Katich on the first morning of the second Test in Adelaide.

"That run-out in the first over of the game - it was the first time I've ever got to run around a cricket field like a football striker scoring a goal," he said.

"That was the best highlight for me - although I have to say as a team Melbourne was special."

It was at the MCG that England retained the Ashes.

Cook, who made a near all-time Ashes record 766 runs in Australia, won the Test Cricketer of the Year award ahead of team-mates Trott and James Anderson, as well as South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

Cook's most treasured recollection of last winter came in the final-Test victory at Sydney, where England - who have since become the ICC's world number one Test team - wrapped up a 3-1 scoreline to retain the Ashes.

"It would have to be Sydney, when Chris Tremlett took that final wicket," said the opener.

"This award is for the England team as much as me. I was quite lucky I was in a bit of form, and we cashed in a bit. But our bowlers were the key to the Ashes."

Among the other winners were India's World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took the Spirit of Cricket award for his part in recalling England's Ian Bell after his controversial run-out during this summer's Trent Bridge Test.