Mitchell Starc has capped off an excellent 2021 by claiming a maiden Allan Border Medal.
The left-arm quick took home Australian cricket's top male award on Saturday, also picking up the ODI Player of the Year gong.
He becomes the fifth bowler to win the award since its 2000 inception, joining Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Pat Cummins.
Elsewhere, Travis Head was named Test Player of the Year, while Mitchell Marsh was named T20 Player of the Year for his heroics on the way to the World Cup win.
Marsh's efforts got him extremely close to winning the main prize - Starc (107 votes) edged him out by just one vote, while Head rounded out the placings with 72 votes.
Starc took 43 wickets at 24.4 across all formats in 2021, while he was more than handy with the bat, as shown by his 155 runs across the 4-0 Ashes triumph.
Speaking on Saturday, Starc said he was proud to have contributed to such an impressive team effort in recent times.
"To look at some of those names that have won this award before, I guess it will take a bit to sink in but I'm hugely honoured to receive this award," Starc said.
"It would be hard not to sit back as an Australian cricketer or a fan to not be proud of the group over the past six months.
"To have played a part in that and been a part of the group... it's been a hugely successful year for Australian cricket... it's hard not to be proud of the whole group and certainly the performances across the way."
Starc set the tone for the Ashes victory when he knocked over England opener Rory Burns with the very first ball of the series in Brisbane.
The 31-year-old said it was a thoroughly enjoyable series, while he couldn't resist a dig at some of his critics.
"It was a straight half-volley on leg stump, I think someone said," he replied when asked about the Burns delivery.
"It was a huge Ashes series, the noise there was incredible.
"That whole Ashes series was a phenomenal series for the group, to be as dominant as we were, but to have huge contributors across the five Tests... it was just such a great group to be a part of for that series."
So happy for this guy. Skill, perseverance, competitiveness, team man and a legend of a bloke to boot! 👏🏼 👏🏼 https://t.co/fOC1jTzdsL
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) January 29, 2022
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Gardner was crowned the 2022 Belinda Clark Award winner, also a first-timer, with 54 votes, edging out Beth Mooney (47) and Alyssa Healy (39).
The all-rounder scored 281 runs at 35 across all formats during the voting period, while also taking nine wickets at 34.
Mooney and Healy wouldn't go home empty handed, taking out the T20 and ODI Player of the Year honours respectively.
Australian Cricket Awards winners
Allan Border Medal – Mitchell Starc
Male Test Player of the Year – Travis Head
Male ODI Player of the Year – Mitchell Starc
Male T20I Player of the Year – Mitchell Marsh
Female ODI Player of the Year – Alyssa Healy
Female T20I Player of the Year – Beth Mooney
Female Domestic Player of the Year – Elyse Villani
Male Domestic Player of the Year – Travis Head
Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year – Darcie Brown
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year – Tim Ward
Community Champion Award – Zoe Cooke
Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductees – Raelee Thompson and Justin Langer
Allan Border Medal
Mitchell Starc (107 votes)
2nd: Mitchell Marsh (106 votes)
3rd: Travis Head (72 votes)
Belinda Clark Award
Ashleigh Gardner (54 votes)
2nd: Beth Mooney (47 votes)
3rd: Alyssa Healy (39 votes)
