Josh Philippe has pipped a cross-town rival to be been named the 2020-21 Big Bash League player of the tournament.
The Sydney Sixers wicketkeeper-batsman topped the leaderboard with 22 votes, finishing ahead of Thunder opener Alex Hales (20 votes) with Perth Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson third on 19 votes.
The award is voted for by the umpires after each of the regular season matches.
Hales and Philippe are the top two run-scorers in this season’s BBL, with the latter’s efforts helping the Sixers top the table and win their way through to Saturday’s home final at the SCG. Hales’ Thunder side finished third on the ladder before having their season ended at the hands of the Brisbane Heat last Sunday.
Hales amassed 543 runs at a strike rate of 161.60 while Philippe has totalled 499 runs at 150.30.
Philippe’s season has included 16 dismissals behind the stumps and three player of the match awards in his 15 appearances so far this campaign.
The 23-year-old’s performances have earned him selection in Australia’s T20 squad for a five-match series against New Zealand starting later this month.
Richardson is the leading wicket-taker with 27, three clear of Brisbane Heat’s Mark Steketee.
The pair will both take the field in the Challenger on Thursday evening in Canberra with the winner of the Scorchers clash with the Heat advancing to face the Sixers in the season decider.
BBL Player of the Tournament Top 10
Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers) – 22 votes
Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) – 20 votes
Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers) – 19 votes
Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) – 18 votes
Ben McDermott (Hobart Hurricanes) – 17 votes
Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat) – 17 votes
Colin Munro (Perth Scorchers) – 17 votes
D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) – 16 votes
Shaun Marsh (Melbourne Renegades) – 15 votes
Jake Weatherald (Adelaide Strikers) – 15 votes
With AAP
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
What is "cricket custom"? The Allan Border medal and such have always been done this same way, with the 3-2-1 votes for each game. Not sure how ICC awards and Wisdon awards are done. But in a lot of ways this method is a lot more subjective. They have separate awards for whoever gets the most runs and most wickets. So Jhye will still get that one (Dwarshus is the closest of all players in the final and he's 6 behind). Philippe still has the chance to pass Hales with 44+ in the final though. Pretty show those ones include finals matches.
jameswm
Roar Guru
There's a good Aussie team in that - only 2 non-Aussies. Except only 1 bowler...
Gee
Roar Rookie
Bad points system, they should of stuck with cricket custom instead of going Brownlow style. Perth win the final with Richardson getting a 5 for & Philippe gets a duck I know who had the better BBL.
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't overly care about the outcome of the award, but in a format that is so badly biased towards batsmen, I'd have thought Richardson was a must to win this.
Rob
Guest
Well deserved. One of Phillipe, Richardson or Hales had to be the winner.