Mitchell Starc wins Allan Border Medal, Ashleigh Gardner claims Belinda Clark Award for 2022

Tom Naghten

Mitchell Starc wins Allan Border Medal, Ashleigh Gardner claims Belinda Clark Award for 2022 image

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."

 

 

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).

 

ashleigh gardner t20

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)

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.