New Zealand star Kane Williamson has been named Wisden's cricketer of the year. The prestigious award is handed out every 12 months based on the main criteria of excellence or influence on the previous English season. The top five names included England Ashes winners Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, former Black Caps Captain Brendon McCullum and Australia captain Steve Smith. In Tests, Williamson hit five centuries and scored 1,172 runs, more than any Kiwi has ever scored in a calendar year. Previous winners of the accolade include Australia’s Ricky Ponting, India’s Sachin Tendulkar and England’s Andrew Flintoff.

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