The Allan Border Medal Award night has come to a closure and the results are out.
Allan Border Medalist: Shane Watson
Deserved and what an achievement! He is currently leading the polls to for the 'Baggy Green Blog Player of the summer' and what an asset he has been to the team in both Test and ODI cricket. He's cast aside doubts people had over his abilities to open the batting in Test cricket, he's become a genuine all-rounder in ODI cricket and having overcome what seems to be have been endless injuries, he has finally made his mark with this award. While only an award, it is bigger than that as the recognition of his hard work and rather unusual journey to succeed at the elite level has finally been achieved. Plenty more to come from Watto. Well done mate!
Australian Test cricketer of the Year: Simon Katich
Initially I suspected Watto to grab this one, but Katto has it this time. Funny enough I expected him to take the award last year ahead of Brett Lee, but Binga had the honours. A consistent opener for us who rarely let's the side down, Katto's return to the Test side has been spectacular. He wears that Baggy Green with pride with the knowledge that it seemed to be over for him after the 2005 Ashes.
Due to that injury Matty Hayden suffered before the Frank-Worrell Trophy in 2008, it opened the door for Katto after a record achieving Pura Cup campaign and the award for Test player of the year is his! He's a classy opening batsman, a useful part-spinner with the habit to get a wicket and a bloody marvellous fielder at short-leg. A real Champ who's a genuinely tough bloke and I will be upset when they day comes around that we don't see the crab-like shuffle at the crease anymore.
Australian ODI cricketer of the Year: Shane Watson
Just thinking of his return to the ODI side in 2008, the two centuries that followed and then lastly that Champions Trophy campaign of his in South Africa. His performances in the semi-final and Final are two significant moments in his career that I will never forget. I expected Michael Hussey to sneak away with this award due to his consistent rescue missions with the bat in the middle order, but Watto has taken this one. Huss was the contender though in the final votes. Surprisingly Ricky Ponting wasn't in the top 3 of the votes.
State Cricketer of the year: Michael Klinger (South Australia)
The Redbacks opener told the media they had been a bit harsh on him after the starts to his season, but a double hundred shut them up. A classy opener for South Australia and a smart cricketer it is Michael Klinger who walks away with the State cricketer award. That's the second year in a row for him.
Bradman Young Cricketer of the year: John Hastings (Victoria)
He is second on the wicket tally in the Sheffield competition, has played every match and is a valuable lower-order batsman who is also effective in 50 over and T20 cricket. Expected Steven Smith to take it, but Hastings does deserve it.
Women's cricketer of the year: Shelley Nitschke (South Australia)
So that's the round-up.
What do you all think of the awards?
6 comments:
But how young is 24? Yay for Captain Kat.
And well done to Watto if I must.
Pretty much expected the 3 big ones to go that way. Although thought Ponting would have been closer in the ODI order but I didn't take into account his early ODI form.
Hastings was a surprise for young cricketer, didn't know he was in contention due to age but easily the best performing of the youngsters. I had Khawaja but his injury didn't help plus hasn't really killed it in the other forms. Smith probably not helped with his lack of batting time in FC.
Yeah I was totally surprised by John Hastings taking it. I didn't even consider him, given his age too. Last year with Hughes it was a given, but I also thought the Redbacks young opener James Smith had a chance too, but then he kind of slumped a bit.
BUT I have some facts here:
BRADMAN YOUNG CRICKETER:
2000: Brett Lee (24 years old)
2001: Nathan Bracken (24)
2002: Shane Watson (21)
2003: Nathan Hauritz (22)
2004: Shaun Tait (21)
2005: Mark Cosgrove (21)
2006: Dan Cullen (22)
2007: Ben Hilfenhaus (24)
2008: Luke Pomersback (24)
2009: Phillip Hughes (20)
2010: John Hastings (24)
So the average age is 22.5, and looking at that list no bloke is ever older than 24...so it must be the cut off.
That should solve that one.
24 os too old. It isn't young in sporting terms.
They should have changed the cut-off age, AFTER Ben Hilfenhaus won it.
I was a bit surprised at Katich, having never really rated him all that much .... but he's been a solid and dependable bloke in the last 18 months, no matter what changes have been going on - so good on him! He is a tough nut and this'll mean a lot to him. To be truthful tho ... it shows we've still got a way to go to get back up to the top when Kat's our best.
Watson - yes. Now lets see it happen for a few seasons and he'll be a legend.
Interesting list re the young cricketers .... most (not all) have progressed into the big time.
Yeah mate. I have actually been quite a fond follower of Katto's cricket. I like his personality for the game too. He's a tough guy and he gets runs in any way possible and also keeps out of the spotlight.
But on that note there is still some time left in Phil Jaques, there's Michael Klinger if we had a big issue, Phillip Hughes is building his confidence again and of course Watto is developing into a confident opener. So I'm not to worried when Katto calls it a day, even though I think it will be a big loss. I'd like him to stay on to taste an Ashes victory as each Ashes he's participated in, we've lost. He is a key player of the home Ashes series.
Punter is the one whose loss will be a huge one, and I don't think many people realise it. I have followed his career from debut so when he decides enough is enough I will certainly be aware of it. He's a brilliant cricketer and I think he gets given more crap than he deserves. My opinion anyways.
Most of those guys have developed a good reputation at International or State level regarding the Bradman Young cricketer award. But it is primarily looking at State cricket alot of the time in more recent years so the gamble is there whether that player goes onto achieve big things.
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