A tour of South Africa is on the horizon, but Australia’s elite cricketers will gather for the Allan Border Medal before departure, with captain Steve Smith the red-hot favourite to win his second. Join The Roar for live updates and coverage.
Australian cricket’s biggest awards ceremony, which came into existence in 2000, has only seen four players win the major gong on more than one occasion.
Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke lead the way with four, while Shane Watson and David Warner – who has won the last two – are also multiple winners.
Smith’s only win of the award to date came during 2015, before the dominance of Warner began. The Aussie captain was second in 2017, but it’s almost a non-event this year.
Smith was arguably the best in the world during the 2017 calendar year, racking up a staggering 1305 runs at 76.76 in Test cricket. Obviously, expect him to also take out the award for Test player of the year.
The shorter forms are a little harder to tip. It’s unlikely to be Smith winning either of them though and his closest rival for the Allan Border Medal, David Warner, is likely to be in the reckoning again.
Warner was the only Aussie picked in the ICC ODI team of the year, so it’s hard to see him not picking up another local ODI player of the year.
While the Aussies only played five T20 matches during 2017, the race for player of the year appears to be between Aaron Finch and Adam Zampa.
Finch was consistent at the top of the order, making 158 runs at 31.6, with a healthy strike rate.
Zampa’s biggest problem is missing one game and only bowling a single over in another. He would have scored points in the other three games with plenty of wickets though.
The women’s award has been won by Meg Lanning for three of the last four years, however injuries mean it will change hands this year. Ellyse Perry, who took top honour in 2016, is favourite after a strong year with both bat and ball, headlined by her double century against England in the Ashes Test at North Sydney Oval.
Other awards to be decided include men’s and women’s domestic and young player of the year.
Prediction
Smith is going to win the Allan Border Medal and Test player of the year – that’s a given. Ellyse Perry should be his equal, taking the Belinda Clarke medal for a second time.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Allan Border Medal from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No dramas Ryan, Yup. I just tend to think Warner is need of a week or three off. He obviously won't get that, but I reckon he will go big in South Africa. Should be able to play with a bit more freedom than he did in the Ashes because I can't see SA employing the same ridiculously defensive tactics.
anon
Roar Pro
First time I have ever heard of Karen Rolton.
AREH
Roar Guru
Cheers Scott! Amazing to think how world-beating Warner's ODI form has been for almost all of the last 12 months, yet is currently struggling to get going in short-form at the moment. Still backing him to score and score substantially in South Africa where he looked great the last time Aus played a test series there in 2014.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Allan Border Medal as Steve Smith and Ellyse Perry took out the top gongs. Hopefully you enjoyed it. Don't forget to keep it locked to The Roar for all the best live coverage of the T20 Tri series and the upcoming tour of South Africa and all the analysis and opinion on everything cricket. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
ALLAN BORDER MEDAL 2018 AWARD WINNERS Allan Border Medal: Steve Smith Test player of the year: Steve Smith ODI player of the year: David Warner T20 player of the year: Aaron Finch Bradman young cricketer of the year: Jhye Richardson State player of the year: George Bailey Belinda Clark award: Ellyse Perry Female domestic player of the year: Beth Mooney Betty Wilson young female cricketer of the year: Georgia Redmayne
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, with that, Smith becomes the fifth multiple-time award winner of the Allan Border Medal. Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting have four, while Shane Watson and David Warner both have two.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Smith. "Yeah, look, I don't play for these personal accolades. I guess to be recognised with this award, thanks AB, I appreciate it. As a leader of the side, I need to be playing from the front. "My Test form has been good. I've been disappointed with my one day form to be fair and that's something I need to look at, but I'm happy with where my game is at. Looking forward to the tour of South Africa. "You have to find what works for you. I've changed the way I've batted over a period of time and I never used to have that movement, but it works for me and it's got bigger and bigger since I brought it in. "Firstly I want to say thankyou to all my teammates. I absolutely love playing with all of you and those are special moments - when you're in the sheds celebrating after a game. Thanks to all the support staff for preparing us. I want to make special mentions to Graeme Hick and Brad Haddin - they throw me thousands of balls. Thanks New Balance, sponsors, fans, family.
Scott Pryde
Expert
And the winner of the Allan Border Medal for 2018 is Steve Smith. In second place was daylight, followed by some more daylight.
Scott Pryde
Expert
ALLAN BORDER MEDAL NOMINEES - Steve Smith - David Warner - Nathan Lyon
Scott Pryde
Expert
Allan Border on stage now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Allan Border medal is up next.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Perry. "It's been a phenomenal year for everyone involved in our team. For everyone that came out to matches and followed the teams progress, it's been a phenomenal 2017. "I hear about the double century double celebration from Megan Schutt almost every day, but it was an amazing innings. The amount of fans at the match who involved the spectacle and knew the players was great. "(My lifestyle) is a great joy (playing both sports). There's no better time to be an elite female athlete in this country. It's such a pleasure to wake up every day and either go to training or play a match. "I wanted to particularly thank my family and friends for their support, not just this year, but ever since I was a little girl. I was really fortunate to fall in love with such a wonderful sport like cricket. To Belinda, thanks to your guidance and support and what you have done for the women's game. "To Steve and the men's team, thanks for all you have done for our team. "I'm looking forward to another huge year for women's cricket and cricket in general going forward."
Scott Pryde
Expert
And the Belinda Clark Award goes to Ellyse Perry. Phenomenal season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
BELDINA CLARK AWARD NOMINEES Ellyse Perry Beth Mooney Megan Schutt
Scott Pryde
Expert
Only the major awards to go now. Belinda Clark on stage now for the award in her name. Time to find out who the women's player of the year is.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ponting. "It does tingle watching it (the highlights). It rams home how much you miss those great days. It was only a few days ago I was talking to Alex Carey. I played the first class game for 21 years and it felt like it went for 20 minutes. To this day, I go to bed a few days a week and have a dream about making a comeback." "Nights like this give you a chance to reflect on the great moments you have had. You hardly ever get a chance to sit and think. "It was an amazing journey which started in the backyard in the northern suburbs of Launceston and reached the dream in Perth where I made my Test debut. "I was a boy with a bat who had big dreams. They weren't all about playing for Australia either. I wanted to play A-Grade for my home club team. I would ride to the ground on my BMX when I was 8, 9, 10, get there before the players at the dressing room door. That's where my passion for the game started. "The things you have seen on the highlights package tonight, even the way Warney spoke about the way I played the game tonight, it was a result of where I came from. I wanted to win no matter where I was whether that was for Mobray, Tasmania or Australia. I can stand here tonight and say I was a successful part of some very successful teams. "I was incredibly lucky to be born when I was. I was fast tracked through the system. I went to the Cricket Academy as a 15-year-old with very little money. I was brought through a very good club and met Rod Marsh who has been one of the most influential blokes in my career. When I left the Academy as a 17-year-old to debut for Tasmania, I was pretty sure I had the tools to become a decent first class player. "Ian Young who is no longer with us took me under our wing. He was our club coach. Those sort of people I had around me really cared about me and where I was going. "Greg Shepperd was a great batting coach. Cricket Tasmania for the opportunity I had as a 17-year-old. Cricket Australia have been probably my only employer so I need to thank them and the blokes on stage. I've played with some great players. "I probably left the game later than I should have, but the reason I stayed was because of the young blokes in the team. "I left one team and joined another - my family - when I retired. Rhiannon, my wife, has given up everything for me. The others on the table there - my mum and dad - the love and support they have shown when I moved out of home at 15 helped mould and shape the person I became. "I'm starting to get back into the game again. Commentary in the T20 has been a lot of fun and so has coaching in with the Aussie T20 team in the last few weeks."
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great speech from Warne and highlights package. Ponting on his way up now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: RICKY PONTING Ponting is undoubtedly one of Australia's greatest ever players and thoroughly deserves his spot in the hall of fame. He played 168 Test matches and 375 ODI matches for Australia, as well as partaking in the first ever T20 international match during 2005. Captaining the nation in ODI cricket from 2002 and Test cricket from 2004, he would hold the position until 2011, eventually going on to retire in 2012. In his Test matches, he racked up a staggering 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85, with a top score of 275. His consistency during the peak years was second to none as he hammered 41 centuries in the toughest form of the game. In ODI cricket, Ponting belted 13,704 runs at 42.03 with 30 centuries. In all,he had 71 international cricket centuries, going past 50 an added 144 times. His top limited overs score was 164, with Ponting always keeping the scoring rate ticking over. His captaincy led Australia to be one of the most dominant sides in the history of the game. The Aussie team broke records under Ponting, his captaincy and fielding being at the top of the game. Truly the player of a generation.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ricky Ponting about to be inducted into the hall of fame by Shane Warne.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Richardson. "The International stage has been surreal. It came about quite quickly having not played much cricket last season to playing almost every match this season and bowling a lot of overs. I've learnt alot. "I haven't got anything to lose. Being so young, flying up the ranks so quickly, if it all comes crashing down then obviously I did something wrong. Just training really hard and keep working. "The next goal is to get a game in South Africa."