In light of the recent saga surrounding Cricket Australia and Ricky Ponting, you could be forgiven for overlooking the upcoming Allan Border Medal, which takes place next week.
Alcatraz is apparently not the biggest drama to grace our screens this year. Who needs Sam Neil when you’ve got John Inverarity and his selection panel?
However the drama has provided a welcome distraction for the organisers of the AB Medal, who continually produce a ceremony which is not a scratch on the Brownlow or Dally M Medal celebrations.
On Monday, players will forget about the commotion, don their suits, grab a partner and grit their teeth (for some) at Australian cricket’s “night of nights”.
So who will be crowned Allan Border Medalist this year?
Let me work through the list to determine the winner.
Ricky Ponting, the highest recipient of the award with four previous medals, always comes into consideration. However, Ponting is unlikely to mount a challenge for the award this year after a disappointing 2011/12 campaign.
Ponting could only manage one century in the one-day format and failed in three of the four test series (averaging 31 versus Sri Lanka, 17.50 versus South Africa and 33 against New Zealand).
The exception being the recent test series again India where Ponting regained some much needed form, averaging 108.80 on his way to belting 544 runs including a knock of 221 at the Adelaide Oval. We can all but put a line through the champion’s hopes of making it a fifth medal. He’ll be lucky to pull a plastic chair let alone some silverware.
Michael Hussey endured a torrid time in the test series against New Zealand (average 7.67) and South Africa (av. 15) last year but performed well against Sri Lanka (av. 92.60) and India (av.58.60).
Hussey will pull votes for his trip to Sri Lanka where he hit 142 on his way to 463 runs in the series and can expect a few for his performances against India, notably his unbeaten century that was only overshadowed by captain Michael Clarke.
His one day form, like his Test matches, showcased a rare inconsistency in his game. Hussey averaged just 23.00 in the World Cup and similar numbers for his tour of Sri Lanka.
On a positive note, against Bangladesh and South Africa Hussey rediscovered some of that lost form and will no doubt have caught the eye of the media, match officials and fellow players.
Hussey will be up there, but very unlikely to win the award.
Unfortunately for the bowlers, votes will be evenly spread. Siddle, Pattinson and Hilfenhaus bowled exceptionally well this summer, however will not pose a real threat mainly due to injury.
This brings us to the overwhelming favourite for the award, captain Michael Clarke. The skipper has really been the year’s only consistent player. In the Test arena, Clarke’s average failed to dip below 40, scoring a century in each of the four series including two against India.
Australia’s dominance in the recent series clean sweep was partly due to Clarke’s performances. Highlighted by his unbeaten knock of 329, Clarke looked at ease when at the crease, notching a grand total of 626 runs for the series.
His solid performances were not only in the longer game; in the 50-over format Clarke enjoyed a rich vein of form. Runs were made in both the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka series while averaging over 70 at the 2011 World Cup.
Black Caviar put any “two-horse race” comments to bed, and it seems Michael Clarke will carry on the champion mare’s legacy. Clarke should go virtually unscathed as he looks to claim his third AB Medal.
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