Travis Head Wins Allan Border Medal, Annabel Sutherland Shines with Belinda Clark Honour at Australian Cricket Awards
Australian cricket celebrated its finest players at the prestigious Australian Cricket Awards, where Travis Head was crowned the winner of the Allan Border Medal for his stellar performances across all formats. The dynamic batter amassed 1,427 runs during the voting period and secured 208 votes, surpassing Josh Hazlewood (158 votes) and Pat Cummins (147 votes). Head also bagged the Men’s ODI Player of the Year award and finished as the runner-up in both the Test and T20 Player of the Year categories.
Reflecting on his achievement in a recorded interview from Galle, Head, 31, said, “Pretty hard to believe. It’s been a good year. Very pleased I’ve been able to fit in, do a role, and lucky I’ve been able to play all formats. It’s a nice accomplishment, and I’ll enjoy it.”
Despite playing only five out of Australia’s 11 ODIs in the eligibility period, Head’s incredible 154 against England at Trent Bridge* helped him clinch the top ODI prize, edging out Alex Carey, Steve Smith, and Xavier Bartlett.
Annabel Sutherland Claims First Belinda Clark Medal
The night also belonged to young all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who won her first Belinda Clark Medal just days after her maiden Test century at the MCG, making history as the first woman to score a ton at the iconic venue.
The 23-year-old impressed throughout the year, starting with a magnificent 210 against South Africa at the WACA and later smashing 163 in the Ashes. She secured 168 votes, beating Ashleigh Gardner (143) and Beth Mooney (115).
Calling it a surreal moment, Sutherland said, “To win an award named after Belinda Clark is pretty special.”
Josh Hazlewood Named Test Player of the Year
Veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood won his first Men’s Test Player of the Year award after taking 30 wickets at an average of 13.16 in Tests against the West Indies, New Zealand, and India.
Meanwhile, rising star Sam Konstas, who made an impact in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at just 19 years old, was named Young Cricketer of the Year. His fearless 60 off 65 balls on debut and a stunning battle against Jasprit Bumrah made him an instant sensation.
Lighter Moments and More Winners
Although many top players missed the ceremony due to the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had the audience in stitches with a hilarious anecdote about Jasprit Bumrah.
“My little nephew, Ted, is four years old. We played backyard cricket the other day, and he came in with Bumrah’s action… and the nightmare continues,” Marsh joked, leaving the crowd in laughter.
Other key award winners included:
Ashleigh Gardner – Women’s ODI Player of the Year (385 runs)
Beth Mooney – Women’s T20 Player of the Year (618 runs)
Adam Zampa – Men’s T20I Player of the Year (35 wickets in 21 matches)
Cameron Green – Community Impact Award (for kidney disease awareness)
The night also celebrated cricket legends Michael Clarke, Michael Bevan, and Christina Matthews, who were inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Domestic and league awards were also handed out, with Beau Webster and Georgia Voll winning Men’s and Women’s Domestic Player of the Year, while Glenn Maxwell and Cooper Connolly shared the BBL Player of the Tournament honour. Ellyse Perry and Jess Jonassen jointly took home the WBBL Player of the Tournament award.
It was a night of celebration, recognition, and laughter—fitting for a year filled with unforgettable cricketing moments.
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