Australian Cricket Awards: A Comprehensive Overview

The Australian Cricket Awards represent the pinnacle of individual achievement in Australian cricket, recognizing outstanding performances across all formats of the game. Established in 2000, these awards celebrate the best male and female cricketers, as well as emerging talents and significant contributions to the sport and the community.

The Allan Border Medal

Considered the most prestigious individual prize in Australian men’s cricket, the Allan Border Medal is awarded to the most outstanding male Australian cricketer of the past season. Named after former Australian captain Allan Border, the medal is determined by a voting system where teammates, umpires, match referees, and the press cast votes after each international match on a 3–2–1 basis [1]. Test votes carry three times the weight of T20 International (T20I) votes, and twice the weight of One Day International (ODI) votes [1].

To date, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, and Steve Smith have each won the Allan Border Medal four times, the most of any player [1]. David Warner has won the award three times, while Shane Watson has secured it twice [1]. Shane Watson holds the record for the highest vote count with 296 votes in 2011 [1].

Allan Border Medal Winners

• Ricky Ponting: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
• Michael Clarke: 2005, 2009, 2012, 2013
• Steve Smith: 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023
• David Warner: 2016, 2017, 2020
• Shane Watson: 2010, 2011

The Belinda Clark Award

The Belinda Clark Award recognizes Australia’s best women’s international cricketer. Like the Allan Border Medal, it is presented annually based on performances over the previous twelve months [3]. The award is named in honor of former Australian captain Belinda Clark [3].

Belinda Clark Award Winners

• Karen Rolton: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
• Shelley Nitschke: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Meg Lanning: 2014, 2015, 2017
• Ellyse Perry: 2016, 2018, 2020
• Lisa Sthalekar: 2007, 2008
• Beth Mooney: 2021, 2023
• Ashleigh Gardner: 2022, 2024
• Annabel Sutherland: 2025, 2026

Other Australian Cricket Awards

In addition to the Allan Border and Belinda Clark Medals, the Australian Cricket Awards encompass a range of other accolades, including:

• Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year
• Women’s Test Player of the Year
• Men’s One Day International Player of the Year
• Women’s One Day International Player of the Year
• Men’s Twenty20 International Player of the Year
• Women’s Twenty20 International Player of the Year
• Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year
• Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year
• Male Domestic Player of the Year
• Female Domestic Player of the Year
• Community Champion Award

New members are also inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame during the awards ceremony [3].

History and Ceremony

The Australian Cricket Awards were first presented in 2000 [1]. The award ceremony traditionally takes place at the Crown Casino in Melbourne towards the end of January or the beginning of February [1], although it has been held in Sydney in 2014, 2015, and 2017. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 and 2022 ceremonies were held as part of the pre-match show for the BBL Finals [1].

Prior to 2019, the ceremony was broadcast on Nine, and 9Gem. Since 2019, it has been televised live on Fox Cricket and 7mate [1]. Notably, there was no physical award ceremony held in 2026 [1], [2].