Sehwag became the “Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2009”

Virender Sehwag became the “Wisden Cricketer of the Year” for the 2nd time in a row, overcoming competition from England captain Andrew Strauss and Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"In 2009, Sehwag broke Test cricket's sound fence by scoring at more than a run a ball," explained Wisden editor Scyld Berry.

The 31-year-old Indian opener was picked for the honour for a 2nd successive year after scoring "more quickly than any specialist batsman in Tests or one-day internationals."

Virender Sehwag also opens in Wisden's 2009 Test XI, led by his India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a side also containing five players who featured in the 2009 Ashes.

But Australia captain Ricky Ponting, England batsman Kevin Pietersen and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith were among those 'dropped' from the Wisden XI.

This year marks the 147th edition of Wisden which has been published continuously since 1864.

Meanwhile, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke has been named as one of the Wisden Almanack's Five Cricketers of the Year in the 2010 edition of cricket's “bible”.

The stylish batsman, 29, was Australia's leading run scorer in last year's Ashes with 448 runs at 64 but suffered the disappointment of finishing on the losing side as hosts England triumphed 2-1 in an intriguing series.