91Èȱ¬

The England Test cricket team have won the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Personality Team of the Year award

Captain Andrew Strauss's side won the final two Tests after Christmas to retain the urn with a 3-1 victory.

England also beat Sri Lanka 1-0 and whitewashed India 4-0 at home to become the world's number one Test side.

They beat Premier League champions Manchester United and Wales' rugby union team to win the award.

England have been awarded the accolade three times in seven years - the first two coming after home Ashes series victories in

The team's success makes it a notable double for England following Andy Flower's triumph in the Coach of the Year category.

England arrived in Australia to predictions from Australia legends and that the hosts could inflict a repeat of the 5-0 drubbing England suffered on their 2006-7 tour down under.

But after to retain the urn in emphatic style.

The team have not lost a Test series since May 2009 and their rise to the top of was confirmed as they took an unassailable 3-0 series lead over India at Edgbaston in August.

Their ascent marks a remarkable turnaround from their position at the bottom of the Test rankings in 1999.

While the team have not lost a Test match in more than a year, their one-day form has not been as strong.

After

One-day international series victories over Sri Lanka and India at home were followed by a 5-0 whitewash away to India.

The winner of the award was decided by a panel of sports editors from national and regional newspapers and magazines.