Juan J. Monroe 
Versatile Ashleigh Gardner and prolific fast bowler Mitchell Starc are the first medalists of Belinda Clark and Allan Border respectively, having received Australian cricket’s highest honours. “Both are the first recipients of their respective honours, voted for by their peers, umpires and media in all forms and at every international cricket match for the past 12 months,” an official statement said.
Gardner’s ultra-consistent season with bat and ball was rightfully recognized with the Belinda Clark Award. In 10 innings, Gardner hit 281 runs at an average of 35.1 which included four half-centuries and a best of 73 not in a memorable T20 victory over New Zealand in Hamilton.
A valuable asset on the pitch, Gardner’s off-spin broke through for nine wickets, two less than Sophie Molineux’s first 11 of the year. all formats. Gardner won her first Belinda Clark Award with 54 votes from Beth Mooney (47) and Alyssa Healy (39) who finished second and third respectively in voting.
Starc had a sensational year in international cricket and captured a total of 43 wickets at an average of 24.4 in all formats, 12 clear of the next best in the country. The left-arm quickie was crowned ODI Male Player of the Year after dominating performances in the three-game series against West Indies which included a 5-48 run in the opener.
One of the best pink-ball bowlers in the game, Starc thrived in the Ashes series and amassed 19 wickets at 25.36 with a best of 4-37 in the opening innings of the Day-Night Test in Adelaide. Starc also scored 241 runs in all formats averaging 26.8 to be among Australia’s top 10 goalscorers over the past 12 months.
Starc (107 votes) edged out T20 World Cup hero Mitchell Marsh (106) by just one vote to win the Allan Border Medal while hitter Travis Head finished third in the poll with 72 votes.
For the third consecutive year, Healy won honors as International Women’s Player of the Year with 13 votes ahead of Rachael Haynes (10) and Megan Schutt (10). Top-notch hitter Mooney won T20 Female Player of the Year with 13 votes, ahead of Tahlia McGrath (10) and Gardner (6).
South Australian batsman Head’s outstanding Ashes series earned him the Male Test Player of the Year award. It’s the latest in a string of honors for Head this summer, who was crowned a Miller/Compton Medalist as a series player during the Ashes’ victorious campaign in Australia.
The southpaw hit 357 carries at an average of 59.50 in the Ashes and, alongside Usman Khawaja, was the only player to record multiple centuries in the series. Allrounder Marsh (53 votes) capped a stellar year by being voted T20 Men’s International Player of the Year ahead of Josh Hazlewood (29) and Ashton Agar (26).
Marsh compiled 627 runs at 36.9 during the voting period and was instrumental in Australia’s first-ever T20 World Cup winning campaign, scoring an unbeaten 77 from 50 balls to be named player of the game in the final.
Elyse Villani and Darcie Brown have won National Player of the Year and Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year awards respectively. Villani scored four centuries and 1,050 runs in 21 games at an average of 61.8, while Brown’s 30 wickets in all competitions during the voting period boosted his huge potential.
South Australian captain Head was also voted National Men’s Player of the Year with 902 runs to 50.1 in all forms of play, while Tim Ward was named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year for his 506 runs to 46 throughout the year.
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ACT Meteor Zoe Cooke has been named Community Champion for her work in supporting, promoting and advocating for women’s football in the ACT through coaching and mentoring roles, particularly in the course system.
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