Allan Border Medal 2024 preview: The contenders to win Australian cricket’s most coveted prize
It was shaping as one of the most open Allan Border Medal races in recent memory – but one clear favourite has emerged from a massive year for Australian cricket.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mitchell Marsh shapes as the raging hot favourite to take out his first Allan Border Medal and mark one of the great career comeback stories in Australian cricket.
Marsh is set to poll well and be a contender across all three formats, and his consistency in red and white ball cricket is likely to set him apart from other Medal hopefuls Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, David Warner, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne.
The Australian Cricket Awards will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket, Kayo and Channel 7 on Wednesday night from Melbourne’s Crown Casino, with the GOAT Ellyse Perry and the heir Ash Gardner set to engage in an intense battle for the Belinda Clark Award.
If Marsh is to earn the votes he should from peers and media representatives, it will be deserved recognition for a player who was once the most maligned cricketer in the country, but now the toast of the Australian team.
Marsh made an immediate impact on the back end of the Ashes series when he was injected for the third Test at Leeds, and his further dominance in the home series against Pakistan makes him a genuine threat to stopping Khawaja from taking out a second consecutive Test player of the year.
Test captain Cummins and the ever-present Smith are the other candidates for Test player of the year after big Ashes and World Test Championship moments.
However, what is likely to set Marsh apart in the final Allan Border count is the fact he will blow Cummins and Smith away in terms of polling for one-day cricket in what was a bumper year for the 50-over format leading into and including Australia’s World Cup triumph in India.
If Marsh doesn’t win ODI player of the year, it will only be because Warner and spinner Adam Zampa were equally brilliant.
Glenn Maxwell and Head also shone bright in ODIs but may not have quite played enough games to challenge Marsh, Warner and Zampa.
In a low-key year of Twenty20 cricket, Marsh also stood out and is battling the likes of Matthew Wade, Sean Abbott and Marcus Stoinis for that recognition.
The Allan Border Medal weighs heavily towards Test cricket achievements, with ODIs weighted at half the value of Tests and T20s at 33 per cent.
But in a year where Australia lifted the World Test Championship Trophy, retained the Ashes and won the ODI World Cup, it’s fitting that an all-format crusader like Marsh should be in prime position.
The voting period started from January 22 last year and finished after the Sydney Test this summer, so performances in the two Tests against the West Indies are not included in the polling.
Australia’s women had a tough Ashes battle, where, like their male counterparts, they retained the trophy without winning outright.
Gardner’s prodigious talent with bat and ball will be hard to beat, but 33-year-old veteran Perry is a massive shot at winning her first Clark award since 2020 and what would be a record fourth overall.
Khawaja was again a beacon of brilliance and consistency in Test cricket, but the fact he doesn’t play white ball cricket will hurt him in the overall AB count.
A couple of years ago Marsh never thought he would play for Australia again and was facing career-altering ankle surgery.
Now the 32-year-old all-rounder is a fixture in the Test team, the anchor of the ODI side and in position to be named T20 captain for this year’s World Cup in the West Indies and USA.
Marsh has also helped bring character back to the baggy green, as an unassuming competitor who can laugh at himself and bring the dressing room together.
MAIN CONTENDERS FOR THIS YEAR’S ALLAN BORDER MEDAL
MITCHELL MARSH
From the remarkable century he posted in his return Test at Headingly, Marsh barely put a foot wrong in the Test team. Clinching a man-of-the-match ahead of centurion David Warner in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth also shapes as a key moment in Marsh’s bid for a first AB crown.
USMAN KHAWAJA
The reigning Test player of the year is a big chance to take out the prestigious title for a second year running after another outstanding year opening the batting for Australia. Khawaja might be 37 but is showing no sign of slowing and is still Australia’s most reliable batsman. Starred on the Test tour of India and helped set up Australia’s Ashes retention.
TRAVIS HEAD
The man-of-the-match from the World Test Championship Final and the World Cup Final has to be a serious chance to be named Allan Border Medalist. The broken hand Head suffered in South Africa might ultimately cost him as he missed vital ODI matches leading into the World Cup and in the first half of the tournament.
DAVID WARNER
The old Bull is probably the favourite to take out ODI player of the year and on that alone he gets himself in the conversation for the AB Medal. However, the now retired opener probably needed a big score or two in India or on the Ashes to push his Test polling up. Warner’s World Cup pedigree came to the fore in India and put a fitting full stop on an incredible career.
PAT CUMMINS
The skipper is a chance to take out Test player of the year. Cummins dominated against Pakistan this summer and also stood up in key moments that mattered on the tour of England. Missing two Tests in India and a lot of ODI matches in the lead-up to the World Cup has limited his ability to score. Cummins’ was brilliant in the World Cup, particularly with his partnership batting and captaincy, but that may not necessarily be rewarded with big votes.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE
It’s been a poor Test year by Labuschagne’s lofty standards but he is still likely to figure in the final counting because of his significant impact on Australia’s World Cup win. Labuschagne’s crowing moment came in the World Cup final with his outstanding 58 not out under pressure.
STEVE SMITH
It’s a testament to the class of Smith that he could have a down year (by his standards) in Test cricket and potentially still take out the Test player of the year. Smith will certainly be there or there abouts after votes are counted for the Test matches, but he didn’t set the world on fire in one-day cricket this year and therefore is likely to be left behind in the final AB tally.
BELINDA CLARK AWARD CONTENDERS
ELLYSE PERRY
Massive chance to claim what would be a record fourth Belinda Clark award at age 33. What a player Ellyse Perry is. If she can scramble to victory on Wednesday night against a field of much younger teammates, it would confirm her stature as the greatest women’s cricketer of all time. This year was a throwback to the golden years for Perry. Brilliant and ultra-consistent, particularly in the T20 and ODI formats.
ASH GARDNER
Sometimes gigantic IPL salaries can act as a millstone around a player’s neck, but not Gardner. Fabulous 12 months, especially Test cricket where she was Australia’s best in both of the five-day matches contested. The all-rounder seems to chip in for votes in just about every match she plays making her very hard to beat.
ANNABEL SUTHERLAND
Breakout year for the superstar bowling all-rounder. Will be a special player for Australia for many years to come with bat and ball. Her massive hundred in the Ashes Test was extraordinary. With brother Will also selected for Australia, it’s a special time for the family of former Cricket Australia chief executive, James Sutherland. Looks as though Sutherland will finish just behind Perry and Gardner but she is there or thereabouts.
BETH MOONEY
Last year’s Belinda Clark award winner was once again commanding in the T20 format where Australia were crowned world champions once again. Didn’t necessarily dominate the ODIs and Tests as she has in the past and that will likely cost the champion opener in the final count.
ALYSSA HEALY
Excellent and underrated season from the wicketkeeping great, and new captain of Australia. Led her team magnificently well and her performances did not dip. Not even the unfortunate dog bite to her hand could slow her down in India.
PHOEBE LITCFHIELD
Contender for ODI player of the year, Litchfield announced herself as a superstar of the future with a tremendous first full season for Australia. Unlikely to finish in the final reckoning for the Belinda Clark award, but her performances in 2024 would suggest an honour like that is not far away. The future face of Australian cricket if she’s not already.
TAHLIA McGRATH
What a fantastically consistent cricketer who would have polled better in the past year if it wasn’t for Perry and Gardner often stealing the show. McGrath was the rock for Australia and is the beating heart of the Australian women’s team.
More Coverage
Originally published as Allan Border Medal 2024 preview: The contenders to win Australian cricket’s most coveted prize
‘Fill in’; Digital fail hits Maxwell return
Anyone following the online scoreboard wouldn’t have known Glenn Maxwell was even batting for the Victorian second XI and his stay at the crease in his red-ball return was short lived.
‘Only 13’: Teen quick’s stunning call-up
A teenage fast bowler who is only a few years out of primary school is on the verge of a big-time debut.