In a star-studded evening at the 2024 Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne, off-spin all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner and fast-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh emerged as the standout performers, clinching the prestigious Belinda Clark Award and Allan Border Medal, respectively.
Gardner, adding a second Belinda Clark Award to her accolades, showcased outstanding performances across all formats, contributing significantly to Australia’s dominance on the international stage. Scoring 499 runs at 24.94 and claiming 56 wickets at 19.39, including a remarkable 12-wicket haul against England, Gardner’s stellar year earned her the coveted Belinda Clark Award. Furthermore, her off-field impact through the Ashleigh Gardner Foundation was acknowledged with the Community Impact Award.
On the men’s side, Mitchell Marsh’s attacking batting prowess played a pivotal role in Australia’s successful campaigns. Scoring 1638 runs at an average of 58.5 across all formats, including a remarkable 177* in the Test format, Marsh claimed the Allan Border Medal, becoming the first all-rounder to do so in more than a decade.
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Ellyse Perry, a stalwart in Australian women’s cricket, was duly rewarded for her immense contributions, securing both the Women’s ODI Player of the Year and T20I Player of the Year awards. Perry’s impressive performances included scoring 466 runs at 66.57 in ODIs and 390 runs at 43.33 in T20Is, coupled with six wickets at 9.5.
Nathan Lyon, after joining the elite club of bowlers with 500 Test wickets, was honored with the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year Award. Lyon’s remarkable year included taking 49 Test wickets at 23.73, showcasing his consistency and impact.
Jason Behrendorff, with a successful return to the Australian Men’s Team, claimed the Men’s T20 International Player of the Year. The left-arm fast-bowler’s eight wickets at 16.5, along with a match-winning spell in India, earned him the prestigious award.
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In the domestic cricket arena, Cameron Bancroft stood out, securing the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year Award. On the women’s side, Sophie Day and Elyse Villani shared the Women’s Domestic Player of the Year Awards. Meanwhile, young talents Emma de Broughe and Fergus O’Neill were recognized with the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year and Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year awards, respectively.
Adelaide Strikers’ batter Matthew Short claimed the BBL season 12 Player of the Tournament, finishing as the leading run-scorer. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu of the Sydney Thunder was honored with the WBBL season 9 Player of the Tournament.
The Woolworths Cricket Blaster of the Year was awarded to Taj Bower from Perth, celebrating the spirit of the game, teamwork, and the joy of playing in Australian Cricket’s entry-level program.
The 2024 Australian Cricket Awards celebrated a year of outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport, recognizing the remarkable talents and dedication within the Australian cricketing community.
-IANS
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