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Edwards named as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year

England captain Charlotte Edwards has become only the second woman to be named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.

Edwards, 34, has won five Ashes series, the World Cup and the World Twenty20 in an 18-year international career.

The 2014 list also includes England batsman Joe Root, Australia paceman Ryan Harris and opener Chris Rogers, plus India batsman Shikhar Dhawan.

Charlotte Edwards in numbers Age: 34 (born Huntingdon, 17 December 1979) Years as England player: 18 (debut July 1996) England appearancess: 277 (21 Tests, 178 ODIs, 78 Twenty20 internationals) Games as England captain*: 188 International runs*: 9,174 Centuries*: 12 Half centuries*: 59 Highest score: 173 not out (ODI v Ireland, Pune, at 1997 World Cup) *combined Test, ODI & T20 international figures Edwards's full career statistics (Cricinfo) external-link

"I'm really shocked. It's something I will cherish," said Edwards.

The coveted awards, which began in 1889, are a central feature of the annual Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, external-link the 151st edition of which was published on Wednesday.

Claire Taylor, Edwards's former team-mate, was the first woman to be included on the list in 2009.

Edwards added: "Since I was a child I've looked at the Wisden - my dad always had it every year. To be in the 2014 edition is a very proud moment for me.

"I'm honoured to think I'm in an illustrious list of players from the past."

The Cricketers of the Year are selected by the editor, based primarily on their performances in the previous English season, and cannot have been chosen before.

Edwards led England to an Ashes series win against Australia on home soil last summer and retained the trophy down under over the winter.

She has won 277 international caps - 21 Tests, 178 one-day internationals and 78 Twenty20 internationals - a women's cricket record.

Root, 23, scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand at Headingley and 180 in the second Test against Australia at Lord's to help England win the Ashes.

Seamer Harris, 34, took 24 wickets in Australia's failed Ashes campaign, and played a key role in their 5-0 whitewash in the return series.

Wisden down the years 1864: Wisden publishes first Cricketers' Almanack 1889: Wisden selects its first Cricketers of the Year 2000: Wisden names its Five Cricketers of the Century: Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne and Sir Viv Richards 2009: Claire Taylor is the first woman to be named as a Cricketer of the Year 2013: Wisden publishes 150th edition

Opening batsman Rogers was the leading run-scorer across both series, external-link having been recalled at the age of 35.

Batsman Dhawan, 28, made 187 off 174 balls - the fastest Test century on debut - against Australia at Mohali in March, and 363 runs at an average of 90 earned him the player of the tournament award as India won the Champions Trophy in England.

Wisden also celebrates the five greatest female cricketers in history, including England's Enid Bakewell, 73, and names South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn external-link as the Leading Cricketer in the World.

In the Notes by the Editor section, Lawrence Booth accuses the boards of India, England and Australia of "colonial-style divide and rule" after they gained more power in changes to the structure of the International Cricket Council.

"Cricket is appallingly administered," he writes. "It was hard to read this any other way: the rich would be getting a whole lot richer."