Mitchell Starc has been named the Alan Border medalist (Image: Izhar Khan)
One of the most highly spoken male cricketers in 2021 in Mitchell Starc has silenced his critics by claiming the Allan Border medal for best male cricketer of the year on Saturday.
With 107 votes, Starc only just edged out Mitchell Marsh by one vote (106) to win his maiden Alan Border Medal. Male domestic cricketer of the year, Travis Head, polled third in the votes with 72.
At 31, Starc wins the AB medal for the first time in his career after winning the T20 World Cup with Australia and taking the second most wickets in the men’s Ashes.
Starc also impressed with the bat during the Ashes, finishing the series with an average of 38.75, the fifth-highest of any batter from either nation.
Along with the top honour, Starc was named male ODI player of the year after claiming 11 wickets at an average of an incredible 10.63 from three matches over the voting period.
Additionally, Starc placed third on the male test player of the year podium with seven votes which was won by Travis Head. Following a breakout summer with the bat including two centuries, Head was named the Men’s Test player of the year with 12 votes. Scott Boland, after an incredible debut on Boxing Day and consistent impact since being included halfway through the Ashes summer, saw him place second with 10 votes.
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One of the best pink-ball bowlers in the game, Starc thrived in the Vodafone Ashes series and amassed 19 wickets at 25.36 with a best of 4-37 in the first innings of the Day-Night Test in Adelaide.
Starc also scored 241 runs across all formats at an average of 26.8 to sit inside Australia’s top 10 run-scorers over the past 12 months.
Allrounder Marsh (53 votes) capped a stellar year by being voted the Male T20 International Player of the Year ahead of Josh Hazlewood (29) and Ashton Agar (26).
Marsh compiled 627 runs at 36.9 during the voting period and was instrumental in Australia’s first-ever victorious T20 World Cup campaign, scoring an unbeaten 77 from 50 balls to be named Player of the Match in the final.
Allan Border Medal
Mitchell Starc (107 votes)
2nd: Mitchell Marsh (106 votes)
3rd: Travis Head (72 votes)
Male Test Player of the Year
Travis Head (12 votes)
2nd: Scott Boland (10 votes)
3rd: Mitchell Starc (7 votes)
Male ODI Player of the Year
Mitchell Starc (15 votes)
2nd: Matthew Wade (6 votes)
3rd: Adam Zampa/Alex Carey (4 votes)
Male T20 International Player of the Year
Mitchell Marsh (53 votes)
2nd: Josh Hazlewood (29 votes)
3rd: Ashton Agar (26 votes)
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