During the voting period (8 January 2016 to 7 January 2017), Warner averaged only 39.7 in Test cricket, with two centuries and two fifties. However, his prolific form in One Day Internationals (ODIs) – 1388 runs at 63.09 with seven hundreds and four half-centuries – helped the swashbuckling left-hander bag the coveted medal. He was also named the ODI cricketer of the Year for his record-breaking numbers in the 50-over format.
“Thanks to my team-mates and Steve Smith without you all I wouldn’t be here, as it’s a team game,” said an elated Warner. “To the fans: we love the support you give, we love entertaining you and I think the game’s in a great state at the moment. Thanks, too, to the past players as we wouldn’t be able to live the dream without what you did before us. To my family, they’ve always supported me 100 per cent, and my wife and two children are my rock,” he said.
“It’s been a very successful year for the team and I’m enjoying playing in it as all the players and staff make my job (as captain and batter) very easy. I’m looking forward to the World Cup this year and I’m very competitive. I enjoy making runs and I want to beat the opposition that’s what it comes down to. There’s lots of challenges and hard work coming up and our aim is to defend the World Cup we won in 2013,” said Lanning.
“I’d like to say thanks to my parents who’ve travelled the world to watch me, the coaching staff and players I work with and Cricket Victoria too. I couldn’t have won these awards without them,” she added.
Despite missing much of the action in the first half of 2016 as he was undergoing rehabilitation following an ankle surgery, the 26-year-old left-arm pacer finished as the highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test cricket during the voting period. He bagged 52 wickets at an average of 24.28 with three five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.
“Personally, it was a tough start to the year but the back-end has been positive for me and the team, and you enjoy it more when you win. We’ve found a combination, a younger group and we’re moving forward. Now we’ve got a good Test challenge in India and we’re looking forward to it,” said Starc.
Shane Watson, who retired from international cricket following the end of Australia’s campaign in the World T20 last year, was named the T20I cricketer of the year. Although he was the second highest run-scorer during the voting period, behind Glenn Maxwell, Watson’s all-round performance helped his secure the award for the third time in his career.
“It’s a shock (to win this award),” said a pleasantly surprised Watson after being named the T20I player of the year. “I’ve always enjoyed Twenty20 cricket and now I’ve retired from international cricket it’s a different life, playing for franchises around the world and I can’t complain.”
Veteran allrounder Cameron White was named the domestic player of the year, joining Darren Lehmann (2000, 2001 and 2002) and Michael Klinger (2009 and 2010) as the only players to have won the award more than once. White, who previously won the award in 2014, scored 1408 runs at 54.15 across formats during the voting period from 11 December 2015 to 9 December 2016.
“Any time you win an award that’s voted upon by your peers it’s extra special. Thanks to the players for voting and thanks to all the staff and players at Victoria,” White said after receiving the award.
Hilton Cartwright and Sophie Molineux were named the male and female young cricketers of the year respectively. The 24-year-old Cartwright scored 926 runs at 44.10 and picked up 17 wickets across formats in domestic cricket during the voting period (11 December 2015 to 9 December 2016) to win the Bradman young cricketer of the year award. Molineux, the 18-year-old allrounder, won the inaugural Betty Wilson award thanks to strong performances in the WBBL and the Under-18 National Championships.
List of Award Winners:
Allan Border Medal David Warner
Belinda Clark Award Meg Lanning
Test Player of the Year Mitchell Starc
ODI Player of the Year David Warner
T20I Player of the Year – Shane Watson
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year Cameron White
Female Domestic Player of the Year Meg Lanning
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Hilton Cartwright
Betty Wilson Female Young Cricketer of the Year Sophie Molineux
